By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON, Kaduna.
Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has expressed confidence that his team, the Guards Brigade Rubicon will go all the way and win this year’s Georgian Cup at the 2016 Kaduna International Polo Tournament.
He expressed this while fielding questions after a last minute goal made his team level to a draw with dominant team, Kaduna El-Amin, powered by Mohammed Ibrahim Babangida in the opener played Sunday evening at the Ahmadu Yakubu Polo Club House, Murtala Square, Kaduna.
According to him, the outcome of the match shows that every second counts in a high goal polo game.
He explained that though his team is featuring in the Georgian contest for the fourth time, they will upset El-Amin who have been participating and won the trophy for decades.
Sirika when asked to rate polo in the country at present, said there was good news, but it could be better.
“In terms of horses we are doing very well because we play now with better horses, but it is unfortunate that in terms of player ratings we are down. We used to have +5 handicap but right now our highest handicap is +4 and we need constant plays and competitions to improve on that,” he added.
Also in an interview, Bello Buba of El-Amin was optimistic that his team will eventually win the Georgian trophy like they have done back-to-back several times.
Buba who is the Man of The Moment of polo in Nigeria, said he is enjoying his fame while it lasts.
“It’s my time and I am taking all the advantage of it. Twenty years ago, it was Dawule Baba and others on top, it doesn’t last forever,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Babangida was missing when El-Amin played Rubicon on Sunday. Reasons for his absence could not be ascertained as at time of filing this report, but there were rumours of his retirement from active play filtering through to polo lovers.
Calls put to him for comments were not picked.
El-Amin and Rubicon played a 6-6 draw on Sunday.
