Kaduna  EL-Amin Celebrates 8th Georgian Cup Title EL-Amin  Show  GeorgianCup Supremacy  in Kaduna’2010 The  much waited Kaduna’2010 International Polo Tournament that took the  political  hob of northern Nigeria by storm has come and gone, but the enduring legacies of  the historic fiesta would remain for a long in the mind of thousands  who witnessed the grand event and the millions  who followed it on the media.

Revered  for its pomp and pageantry, this year’s Kaduna polo grand slam was truly  grandiose in its overwhelming excitements and shatters all available  records as  the most attended and the most contested international polo tournament in the  country in decades.

With  a record fifty top polo teams from all the major polo clubs across the country  and selected sides storming the cosmopolitan city for fiesta that annually turn  out the biggest sporting event, Kaduna’2010 was truly in its grandest moments as  polo enthusiasts were truly thrilled for solid nine days.

At  the end of the adrenaline pumping high profile festival, there was an air of  satisfaction everywhere as and the best performers carted home glittering   prizes, while the thoroughly entertained polo enthusiasts hail the organizers, asking for more of the polo raves.

One  such winner that took off from where they left off last year are the Nigerian polo reigning kings, Kaduna EL-Amin  who took their four years Georgian Cup back-to back victory record to a new  height, winning their eight Georgian Cup title in style.

The  Mohammad Babangida powered polo kings are without doubt, the most consistence  and the most popular high polo team in Nigeria and beyond, having dominated the  high-goal polo scene since 1999 till date.

The  Babangida Boys who arrived the legendary Murtala Mohammed Square venue, to the  warm embrace of their teeming fans did not disappoint with their traditional  running that kept the crowded stands on its feet, defeating a reinforced Lagos  Rubicon  opposition to retain their  Georgian Cup title, they first won in 1999.

To  retain and set the all times victory record in  the oldest and the most wanted African polo trophy made from pure  Georgian silver in 1785 , the Kaduna warriors relied on the spectacular forms  of  Nigeria’s number one star, Bello Buba  who won his 12th Georgian title this year.The  Nigerian super star who is now the highest handicap Nigerian player, is

EL-Amin  chief predator mesmerizing with Rambo Ibrahim Mohammed, Mohammed Babangida and  their South African import, Sbu Duma. They  gave out four handicap goals in a six chukker campaign and scored a record 21  goals blasting away Lagos Rubicon and Katsina Hajara Farms on their way to  clinching the royal crown and the prestigious Argentine Ambassador  Cup. Babangida  boys who are proud holders of the Emir of Katsina Cup in Kano, having won the highly revered royal title a record seven times since 1996, spiced their  impressive outing with a third title, beating a strong field of selected  high-goalers, 73 to win the Sardauna Cup, one of the highly revered polo title  played in memory of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu  Bello.

As  is now tradition with Kaduna high goal extravaganzas, Argentine and South  African professionals again headlined the action.  Lagos  Goodfellow’s Tomas Ursher of the famous Argentine polo family and South Africa’s  duo of Clive Millman of Keffi Pony and EL-Amin Sbu Doma, were predictably the  ace of the tournament.

In  addition to Ussher, the tournament also featured seven goaler and crowd  favourite Diego White who was playing his first Kaduna international tournament  in the colours of Honourable Hadi Sirika’s Rubicon. Predictably,  it was Rubicon’s debutante Diego White who had posed the most  potent obstacle to  EL-Amin triple. In the end, however, Babangida kings prevailed with their  traditional fireworks much to th anticipation of the teeming  crowd.

Visiting  Lagos contingent that claimed two top titles last year, re-enact their  spectacular forms with the top firing Goodfellows and the resurgence Lagos Ikoyi  team clinching their first Dickenson Talb Zakari and El-Amin cups  respectively.Ussher  who was playing for the first time in Nigeria, was clearly Dickenson Cup MVP as  he pivoted the trio of Tobi Edun, Bashir Dantata (Jnr.) and team patron, Wale  Edun to a spectacular victory, beating a crowded field of ten teams including  five Kaduna oppositions.

DeeBee  Farm’s Baba Dawule, Bello Buba and Abubakar Dagazau who finished runners-up in  the highly competitive medium goal title race, clearly rued the absence of their  mentor and key man Dawule Baba, who was away on a business trip abroad after  qualifying the team for the final. Abdulwahab  Sani Stores skippered Katsina Dredging &Marines boosting the likes of  Suleiman Shema, Nazir Bello and Tijani Hassan, gave Katsina polo fans something  to cheer for as they defeat hard fighting Bauchi Kari to win the

NAHCO  Cup.
The  Low-goal EL-Amin Cup that attracted a record 20 in its second year of  competition holds plenty of promises as low handicappers and beginners vie for  honours in title that debuted last year, with a N.1million cash prize reward to  the Most Valuable Player.

Sponsored  annually by EL-Amin Group as one of the four main titles at stake in Kaduna, the  cup went to Lagos, as the quartet Abdulmalik Gbadamosi, Nda Bala Ibrahim,  Abdulmumuni Musa and Isa Kwame finished top. Lagos  Ikoyi’s match maker, Abdulmalik Gbadamosi smiled home with N100,000 cash  prize  as the EL-Amin Cup MVP, succeeding Khalifa Adams who was the award last  year.  Argentine mare, Negresa from Lagos  Good Fellows stable ridden by Tomas Ussher, was decorated with the Best Playing  Pony medal.

Lagos  based Usman Ahmed who debuted in the Dickenson Cup race this year with Agad,  displayed great improvement and stability as a striker, pivoting his selected  side to win Shehu Kangiwa Cup.

The  glittering cup is played annually in memory of the late Sokoto State Governor  who passed on in 1981 while leading Sokoto Kalambaina against Kaduna Kakuri for  Georgian Cup clash.