By Femi Mustapha
The 106th edition of the Kaduna International Polo Tournament has attracted leading polo players to Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna for a weeklong competition featuring the prestigious FirstBank Georgian Cup.
The tournament features defending champions Kaduna El-Amin, led by Mohammed Babangida, who are seeking to extend their record by winning a 17th Georgian Cup title.
Among the challengers is Adamu Attah’s Fifth Chukker, as competing teams battle for the coveted trophy, which represents more than a century of sporting history.
FirstBank Nigeria Ltd. has reaffirmed its commitment to the Georgian Cup Polo Tournament, citing its more than 106 years of uninterrupted sponsorship of the competition.
Bashir Ali, Group Head, Abuja, representing the Public Sector at FirstBank, stated this in an interview with the journalist on the sidelines of the tournament.
Ali described the longstanding sponsorship as a source of pride for the bank, saying the partnership had endured because the tournament continued to provide value to the financial institution.
“If there is no value, we would not be here for over 100 years. So, definitely, there is value,” he said.
According to him, the tournament has continued to improve over the years, particularly in the quality of the playing field and the standard of play.
“The field has continued to improve. The quality of play has also continued to improve. You can see what we are seeing today. It’s a great game, and we are proud to be associated with it,” he said.
Ali disclosed that the Kaduna Polo Club had submitted the Georgian Cup for consideration by the Guinness World Records as the longest-running sponsorship.
He said FirstBank would not favor any particular team, adding that the bank would congratulate whichever team emerged victorious.
“We cannot say this is the team we want to win, so whichever team wins takes the cup. So, we congratulate them,” he said.
The first match of the day saw Musaco defeat Pop Cola by six and a half goals to six in a closely contested encounter sponsored by FirstBank.
The match was played at Murtala Mohammed Square as both teams battled for honors in one of the tournament’s prestigious competitions.
In the Georgian Cup final, El-Amin and Malcomais played out a 10-10 draw, with El-Amin awarded the trophy based on the outcome of their previous encounter.
Ali, who disclosed that he rode horses but did not play polo, reiterated FirstBank’s pride in its longstanding association with the tournament.
The Kaduna International Polo Tournament remains a major fixture on the state’s sporting calendar, bringing together teams, players, and enthusiasts to celebrate polo and compete for honors.
