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The Nigerian Cup
and General Hassan Cup, two of the most prestigious prizes in the
Katsina International Polo Tournament, were again at the centre of
massive battles and betting frenzy as this year’s tournament climaxed
last night.

This is not the
first time these two titles would be living up to their billing as the
tournament’s star attractions. The cutting edge drama and flourish that
characterise competition in these two events make them the favourites
of polo fans who throng the Usman Nagogo Polo ground to watch top
flight action.

The Nigerian Cup
remains the premier trophy in Katsina and one of the four grand slam
prizes in Nigerian Polo, ranking in popularity with Georgian,
Majekodunmi and Emir of Katsina, sure has some mystic around it.

Apart from its
pre-eminent position as the first high-goal prize to be competed for
every season, what makes it thick is the approach of the competing
teams from Kaduna, Lagos, Kano and lately Katsina, a commitment no
other prize can quite regularly induce.

This year, that
same commitment was displayed by former champions, Fifth Chukkers,
defending champions, Lagos Rubicon, and two home teams, Hajara Farms
and Katsina Max Air. Both were seeking to win the title for the first
time for host Katsina.

Though the Hassan
Katsina Cup is a handicap notch below the Nigerian Cup here, it has
consistently attracted more fans with its vibrancy, which pumps up fans
adrenaline levels and keeps polo aficionados on their toes.

In recent times
these attributes have elevated the cup to become arguably one of
Nigeria’s top medium goal prizes, easily eclipsing its counterparts in
Lagos (Open), Kano (Dantata Cup) and Kaduna (Dickenson) which can’t
quite escape the overbearing shadow of their respective high goal cups.

Annihilating the dream

The fact that the
host club, Katsina, has not been fielding teams in the Nigerian cup for
a long time, has everything to do with the growing popularity of this
medium-goal title named after “Soul of the Game” and the late Life
President of Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF)Hassan Usman Katsina.

In this year’s
fiesta, Katsina Kangiwa boasting the likes of Umar Kabir, Bashir
Mangal, Bello Buba and Mohammed Serirki hoisted its flag in the Hassan
Cup rumble and they were blistering in their opening game annihilation
of Ibadan Dream team.

Locked against
teams from Kano and Kaduna, the home fans’ favourite squad who are the
kings of medium-goal games in other major tournaments around the
country, did not disappoint.

The Kangiwa army,
which is being mounted to immortalize the late Governor of Sokoto
State, Shehu Kangiwa, who died in playing in the Georgian Cup in Kaduna
three decades ago, were truly at their best endearing themselves to
thousands of polo buffs across the country with their robust campaign.

Consistent performance

Tournament after
tournament, venue after venue, Katsina medium goal teams have
consistently reproduce the same blistering performance that has become
their trademark and when it comes to Hassan’s prize and in front of
their home crowd, they display zero tolerance to opposition.

Put it on the
Katsina players then, as they are always motivated by competitive
ambitions beyond the reward, in the truest Olympian tradition. The roll
call include the Katsina polo playing princes like Hussaini, Umar and
Sanusi Kabir, Shehu Lawan Kaita, Mohammed Seriki, Lawal Mangal,
Abdulwahab Sani Stores, Suleiman Shema, Bashir Yar’Adua, Aminu Gagare,
Nura Daku, Madani Sani etc.

Together with their
foreign legion like Ibrahim Zakari, Babangida Hassan, Honourable Hadi
Sirika, Ahmadu Bakori, Abba M. T. Usman, Ibrahim Abba and England based
Dikko Ladan, they create legends out of Katsina polo.

The state boasts a
number of medium and low goal teams like Katsina Kangiwa, Katsina
Gobarau, Katsina Max Air, Katsina Masanawa, Katsina Hajara Farms,
Katsina Tarno and lately Katsina IT Sec.

Often they merged
for a more potent campaign. On the road one or two of the Katsina teams
are usually enough to work up the crowd and before their teeming fans
at the Nagogo Ground, where they play with the full compliments of
their resource, they let the sparks fly all over the ground all too
easily.

Over the years,
Katsina players may have created such an intimidating reputation, but
the Grand Slam prizes won’t necessarily follow them home. Quite often
they do get as much as they give, especially from Lagos and Kaduna,
Kano, Yola, Bauchi, Ibadan and Port Harcourt teams.