No fewer than 13 polo teams are jostling for two trophies as the 10th edition of the African Patrons Cup polo tournament gallops off at the Fifth Chukker Polo & Country club, Kaduna. Ten teams are drawn for the medium-goal General Hassan Cup whereas three teams are locked in the high-goal Patrons Cup.
For the past seven years this event has also lent itself as a high profile sporting platform to promote breast cancer awareness especially in Northern Nigeria.
In the opening match, Abuja Almat (Idi badamasi; Tijani Aliyu; Nura Suleiman; Rabiu Mohammed) launched their title defence of the medium- goal General Hassan cup in impressive style with a 7-1 1/2 victory over Dokaji Farms (Haliru Jika; Hussaiini Ahmadu; Ahmed Sodangi; Ibrahim Babangida). Four goals in the last chukka crushed any hopes of a possible come back by the farmers who were chasing the game from the start despite their handicap goal advantage.
The second match of the tournament was a tightly-fought affair between GWG Oil (Abdulsamad Rabiu; Sadiq Rabiu; Murtala Aliyu; Kabiru Saidu) and Golding 36 (Ahmad Sada; Buhari Mahdi; Hassan Ramalan; Hamisu Buba). The encounter was deadlocked at 3-3 after 2 chukkas, and remained scoreless after the 3rd. With all to play for in the final chukka, Murtala Aliyu’s early goal for GWG was promptly cancelled by Hamisu Buba who also scored a late winner for Golding 36 to take the match 5-4.
The 2017 African Patrons cup is powered by First bank Private banking and MRS Oil & Gas. The week-long tournament ends on Sunday 15th October.
