Chairman of the Nigerian Army Polo Association (NAPA) Brigadier General Adamu Laka has expressed satisfaction with the success recorded at this year’s Nigerian National Carnival Polo Tournament.
The 9-days polo fiesta played at the Guard Brigade Polo Club, Abuja, saw 24 leading clubs and top local and foreign players jostling for various honors on the card with
Senator Hadi Sirika-led Rubicon winning the prestigious President Cup, beating Malcomines of Jos in a thrilling contested final.
The Malcomines who were the defending champions came into the game as wounded lions after losing the Argentine Ambassador Cup to arch rivals Rubicon, but both sides could not be separated at the end of a high goal of five chukka encounters. The game had to be decided by a coin toss after it ended in a 7-7 score draw.
The result of the official coin toss performed by the minister of youth development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, went in favour of Rubicon as they emerged victorious, dethroning the defending champions Malcomines who had won the cup back to back three consecutive times.
General Laka applauded Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja for taking it upon himself to provide first class pitch and infrastructures at the Nigerian Army Polo Resort for the success of the tournament.
“The tournament at the Nigerian Army Polo Resort organised by the Guard Polo Club has gone steps further.
“The skills of the players, the visitors and level of play has improved significantly. And apart from that if you look around, someone who was here five years ago would not believe he is in Nigeria with the infrastructure and pitch we have here now. Special thanks to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who took it upon himself to ensure the club becomes the best club in Africa.
Those of you who were here last year must admit that there is marvelous improvement in the infrastructure. The stability and quality of the pitch we have here can compete with any one anywhere in the world,” Gen Laka said.
He also commended the Nigerian Army Polo team for giving a good account of themselves at the tournament, saying polo game is regimentation to the Nigerian Army.
“The Army Polo Team is just for fun, polo is a military game, regimentation and royalty to the Army, Right from the Defense Academy, Army officers are trained on horse riding. So, it is not just for fun, but part of our regimentation.
” Last year the Nigerian Army won the FCT Minister cup but we couldn’t make it to the semifinals this year and that is sports for you, you win some and lose some. The Army team won the El-Amin Cup in Kaduna and many tournaments around.”