Polo according to History is a game of Central Asian origin, polo was first played in Persia (Iran) at dates given from the 6th century bc to the 1st century ad. Polo was at first a training game for cavalry units, usually the king's guard or other elite troops. Britannica.com
There is a little bit of back and forth regarding the history of Polo sport in Nigeria between the North and South. Polo players in the south claimed that it was introduced to Nigeria by the British Naval officers in 1904 where they established the Lagos Polo club. While Polo players in the north claimed that it was introduced to Nigeria by the late Emir of Katsina, HRH Sarki Muhammad Dikko in the early 20th century after returning from visiting England where he saw the game being played and immediately fell in love with it.
It is on record that the Ancient city of Katsina is believed to be the Centre of Polo sport in Nigeria with the history of Polo sport dating back to 1920 which was the year Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) was formed under the leadership of late Sarki Dikko.
It was said that Polo started to be played only by the royal house when the late Emir returned from England. He quickly gathered his children and courtiers and taught them how to play Polo. The most prominent and famous Polo player so far in the history of Nigeria who was the highest handicapped is non other than the son of the late Sarki Dikko, HRH Alhaji (sir) Usman Nagogo (who succeeded his father on the throne and Polo as well). Sir Nagogo achieved a handicap of 7 goals throughout his career when he compete in local and international Polo tournaments as an active athlete. This same trend continued within he royal family from generation to generation such that the Sport was regarded by the princes and the Emirs as among the traditional sport of the royalty.
As of today, Katsina is regarded to be the cradle of Polo sport in Nigeria being the state where NPF was formed as early as 1920. Therefore, Polo has achieved wide spread popularity and acceptance by the Emirs subjects in Katsina, other states in the north and the Southern part of the country. The issue of who is the first to introduce it or when it first came into Nigeria is no longer a subject of debate or controversy. For this reason there is a unique annual Polo international tournament in Katsina that is usually graced and witnessed by top Polo players in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The completion of the annual tournament will set the ball rolling for other local tournaments in the country to commence.
The tournaments highest honour in Nigeria is the NIGERIAN CUP followed by the GENERAL HASSAN KATSINA CUP, COMMASSIE CUP and the TALBA CUPS. Other less prestigious trophies include VICE PRESIDENT CUP, MUHAMMADU KABIR CUP, GOVERNORS CUP, MAIDABINO CUP to mention but few.
High profile Polo sport is played across Nigeria in places such as Maiduguri, Jos, Bauchi, Yola, Zaria, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin and Sokoto. Notable among the prominent Polo clubs are Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club, Lagos Polo, El-Amin Polo team Nigeria, Nigeria Polo sports and Federation, Zaria Polo club and recently the 1212 Polo and Turf club.
Recently another variation to the Sport was added which is known as beach Polo in Lagos state Nigeria. This include women partaking in the Sport, unlike the northern part of the country where it is almost a taboo to see a woman astride a horse to say nothing of her partaking in the game of Polo.
Polo is indeed a game of choice popularly among the royalty, the Super rich, former military generals and politicians. This is no surprise considering the huge amount of money needed to acquire, groom and feed a minimum of 6 foreign horses just for a single game of Polo. It is said that a single Argentinian horse is imported for upwards of 12000000 Naira ($35,000).
Presently, the leading Polo players in Nigeria are either Billionaires and multi-millionaires or their children. They include the son of former military dictator Mohammed Babangida, the children of Billionairess Alakija, Adeyemo and Yinka, the son of Billionaire Dantata, Sayya Dantata, Jamilu Mohammed, Bello Buba and Hamisu Buba, Murrada Shehu, Bode Brothers, Dawale Baba and other such super rich Nigerians.
It was said that anyone can partake in the Sport without any form of inhibition as long as he or she has the required skills and equipments. That is simply just for the saying considering that not anyone is Richie Richie nor the sons and daughters of Emirs and Elites of the society.
It is going to take some time before the game of Polo tickles down to the ordinary man out there on the street who have come to love the game but is constrained by penury. So like me he remains a fan and a bystander spectator at the annual Polo grounds, wishing and willing that one day he be brought into the prestigious game of Polo, the "Sport of kings".
As for you reading this, i don't know about how the game of Polo is played and who and who do play it in your country. If you can share with us briefly and give a hint as to the class difference if there is any in your kind of Polo sport.
All images used are sourced here
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