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The end of the
Ramadan period is expected to witness a flurry of activities on the
polo scene as gladiators return to the arena after a long break.

The Yola tournament
will kick off the fray and thereafter polo faithful in Abuja will be
treated to the best of the sport as leading players and clubs converge
on the nation’s capital in November for an inaugural tournament to be
held at the newly opened 1212 Polo & Turf Club.

Officials of the
club, which is located between Gwarimpa and Life Camp, off the Kubua
Expressway, are still finalising details of the tournament and will
come out with a date for the tournament very soon.

They disclosed
however that the tournament will feature competition in regular cups
like the Abuja Open Cup, President’s Cup, IBB Cup, Senate President’s
Cup, CBN Governor’s Cup and Patrons’ Cup, among others.

Located at the foot
of the famous Gwarimpa Hill, stretching up the hill and the surrounding
area which nestles at the heart of Abuja’s legendary horse country, the
1212 Polo & Turf Club is a world-class polo and racing club
designed by and for players and jockeys, to showcase the finest the
sports have to offer.

Built and Promoted
by Sani Nuhu and his friends Rufai Jose and Yair Segal, 1212 is a
return to the way the game of polo and horse racing were meant to be
enjoyed, where players and fans of all ages gather in a world-class
venue for the love of the sports and the lifestyle.

Bird’s eye view

The rolling natural terrain of 1212 provides for spectators and players alike, a bird’s eye view of the entire city.

The lush tropical
landscaping and a carefully manicured polo field ring by world class
race tracks, completes the picture of a dream country club and a heaven
for equestrian sports. Watching high-goal polo or international racing
event from the proposed VIP boxes, viewing stands, field side tailgates
and special hospitality tents, all overlooking the Championship Field,
promises to be an unparalleled experience.

Explaining the rather peculiar name of the club, Nuhu said:

“This unique name
is history in its self and (it was) the date the seat of Federal
Government was moved from Lagos to Abuja by the administration of
President Ibrahim Babangida and the present and future generations will
always appreciate the date” he explained during a guided tour of the
facility.

On what members of the Nigerian polo community should expect of the club, Nuhu said:

“To all polo and
racing enthusiasts and newcomers alike, we extend our invitation to be
part of the 1212 history, as we work together in building this world
class facility to nourish our love and affection towards the game, in a
spirit of friendly competition, as well as a facility for networking.

“It is our
aspiration to make 1212 Polo & Turf Club a place where new
generations of Nigerian polo players with strong character and
dedication will be born,” he vowed.

“I am optimistic that 1212 as a pride of Abuja will flourish, as a
centre for developing our sport and the city’s number one leisure hot
spot will thrive. While we still have a long journey ahead of us to
achieving these set goals, I strongly believe that the very presence of
1212 Polo & Turf Club is a notable milestone in the history of
Nigerian polo.”