The Nigeria Army Polo Association (NAPA) team and Maizube Farms were off to a flying start in their first game of the 2022 National Carnival Polo Tournament in Abuja.
The week-long tourney galloped off on Saturday at the Nigeria Army Polo Resort/Guards Polo Club, Abuja.
The NAPA team on Sunday defeated Dattaku 7-3 in their first game of the FCT Minister’s Cup, while Maizube Farms also defeated Badako Zaz 4-2 in their first game of the Guards Challenge Cup.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Aliyu, the Chairman, Nigeria Army Polo Association (NAPA), expressed delight over the victory of both teams, adding that he was happy that the matches played were devoid of injuries.
“I am so excited that both of my teams won their games today.
“My son played in the second game with the Maizube team, while my team, the Nigeria Army Polo Association (NAPA) team played in the last game of the day and they all were victorious.
“We thank God the game went well and the most gratifying thing is that it was injury free.
“Once a polo game is played and there are no accidents, no matter who wins you are as a patron, proprietor or the team captain,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of both teams to emerge victorious in their various categories.
“I trust my team and most especially the horses. I know their capabilities.
“In the game of polo, 70 per cent of the team’s strength is reliant on the quality of the horses and I know my horses.
“I have a mixed breed of both Argentines and Sudanese.
“You just wait and see. Posterity will vindicate us, but if we don’t win, it’s just a matter of luck,” he said.
In one of the matches also played on match day two, Dogon Yaro Farms defeated 313 Polo team 6-4 to record their first win in the battle for the Guards Challenge Cup.
Results of other matches played earlier on matchday one saw Alphamsa defeat Badako Zaz 4-2 in the battle for the FCT Minister’s Cup.
ASI lost 1-3 to 313 Polo team in the first game of the Guards Challenge Cup, while the Police Polo team walloped NSK Farms 8 and a half goals to 2 as the fierce battle in the FCT Minister’s Cup continues.
NAN also reports that 21 polo teams are competing for four cups in the different categories, ranging from high to medium and low goals.
Malcomines of Jos and 60 Yards/Afmaaj Consulting will both lock horns in a two-legged battle on Friday and on the final day (Sunday) for the tournament’s highest prize, which is the President’s Cup.
In the Legislative Shield, which is the tournament’s second highest cup, three teams namely; Abuja Rubicon, Max Air and Dokaji Farms will do battle against themselves to know who emerges as winner in the category.
In the FCT Minister’s Cup, which is the third tier trophy, 10 teams will slug it out against each other in a battle for supremacy.
The teams include NSK Farms, Police Polo, Nigeria Army Polo Association (NAPA), Sikka Spa, Dattaku, FS Polo, Haskel & Williams, KN SMR, KT Danmarna and Susplan.
In the fourth trophy, which is the Guards Challenge Cup, six teams will trade tackles against each other to determine the winner of the category.
The teams are Dogon Yaro Farms, ASI, 313, Maizube Farms, Alphamsa and Badako Zaz.
