As the battle for top honours at the ongoing 2019 First Bank Georgian Cup centenary Polo Tournament reach its feverish heights this weekend, there are strong indications that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari would led a long convoy of dignitaries to the closing ceremony of the international polo fiesta on Sunday.
President of Kaduna Polo Club, Suleiman Abubakar who dropped this hints, lauded the ground breaking participation of the Presidency with the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika leading the campaign for the First Bank powered 400 Georgian Trophy that is celebrating its 100th edition this year.
Abubakar, who hailed First Bank on the landmark of Georgian Cup commitment, stated that Nigerian Presidents and Heads of State have over the years patronized the tourney since its inauguration a century ago, as the biggest international sports cum tourism event in the cosmopolitan city.
“Yes, we would be greatly honoured to have the President as the Special Guest of Honour of the grand finale of our international festival that celebrate one of the world’s oldest polo prizes and the Guinness Book of Records sponsorship by Nigeria premier banking institution, First Bank Plc, that spans a century now,” says Abubakar.
According to the organizers, president Buhari will be joined by first class emirs across the country, diplomats and business gurus at the closing ceremony of the First Bank tournament that promotes the development of polo and sports generally in the country.
“This is yet another bold statement of our resolve to contribute to the development of the noble game of kings as well as impact positively on the physical and mental wellbeing of the teeming youths in the country,” Abubakar pointed out.
Already, a record entry of teams from all the major polo centres across the country, are jostling for top prizes at stake in the weeklong festival that would remain the biggest tourism cum polo event in the years to come.
Top Nigerian patrons like Sueliman Abubakar, Mohammed Babangida, Senator Hadi Sirika, Murtala Laushi and Bashir Bashir Dantata since last week are locked in epic polo battles to decide the king of the Centenary edition of prestigious First Bank Georgian Cup polo grand slam.
The race for the Emir of Katsina, Imani and EL-Amin cups have been fierce with no clear favorites in sight since the tourney galloped off on a blistering note, as equally match 35 teams with enough horse power and foreign professionals are pushing for the finals.
President Buhari is expected to roll in the ball for the final match of the Georgian Cup thereafter, lead other top dignitaries to present prizes to the winners and runners up at a colourful closing ceremony and centenary would draw the curtain on the international polo extravaganza.
Anthony Nlebem
