The FirstBank-sponsored Georgian Cup, one of the continent’s most glamorous polo tournaments returns to the famous Kaduna Polo Club this week.
Now in its 103rd edition, the 6-day tournament started on Monday, 31 October 2023, and will end on Sunday, 5 November 2023.
The 102nd edition held in Kaduna in 2021 was won by Abuja Rubicon. Led by Hadi Sirika other players in the team include Bashir Dantata, Abdulmalik Gbadamosi, Argentine imports, Tolito Ocampo and Silvestre Donovan.
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The competition which galloped off during the week staged a glamorous return after a twelve-month delay following the rehabilitation and remodeling of the polo facility. The 2023 edition will have 4-goaler Bello Buba, leading the best of selected home-based riders with top professionals from Argentina also participating in the tournament.
Also expected to feature prominently is Kaduna El-Amin. Mohammed Babangida, the patron of the club will be presenting the +19-goal team. Babangida has in his team Nigeria’s best polo player Buba +4. El-Amin has won the Georgian Cup 15 times.
Adamu Attah, Patron of Fifth Chukker will lead a packed +18-goal team. Attah has fast-riding Abdulrahman Mohammed +3 in his team so also is Fercundo Retamar +6. Attah is a +2-goal player and has won the Georgian Cup nine times.
Homeboy Abdulmalik Badamosi +4 is leading Hadi Sirika +18 goal Abuja Rubicon. Sirika, former Aviation Minister is a +2 goaler. Abuja Rubicon is a three-time Georgian Cup winner, while MaxAir/Lintex has a +16 team in its stable. Manuel Crespo is the team’s star player. Dubbed the ‘Assassin’, Crespo is a +6-goal player.
Apart from the history-making High-goal Georgian Cup, other Cups to be competed for include the Emir of Katsina Cup, (Medium Goal) and Imani Cup (Low Goal)
The Georgian Cup, donated by FirstBank in 1918 is the oldest and most respected Polo trophy in West Africa. The Kaduna Polo Club was founded in 1918 by the British Army and is one of the most prestigious clubs in Nigeria.
Currently, the Georgian Cup sits as the premier and most prestigious polo trophy in the continent, and one of the longest-running sports sponsorships in the world.
