Kaduna Polo Club agog as Georgian Cup hits the centenary mark

The best of the country’s polo players have gathered at the Kaduna Polo Club for what observers believe will be one of the most championships this year. It is the centenary edition of the Georgian Cup sponsored by First Bank and the stars are ready to shine.

At the weekend, the organisers rolled out the drums for the 100th consecutive year ready with a platform that would push the players to the show why they are some of the best in the game around.

The sponsorship deal is one of the longest-running sports sponsorship in the country and the world at large, and thus a Guinness Book of Records potential, analysts say.

This edition of the tournament runs from October 12 to 20 at the Kaduna Polo Club. The Kaduna Georgian Cup Centenary Polo Tournament commenced in 1919, with FirstBank as sponsor for the whole 100 years.

Excited at the commitment of the sponsors, the President, Kaduna Polo Club, Alhaji Suleman Abubakar said, “We are honoured to record such a milestone with FirstBank since the inception of the tournament 100 years ago,” he said.

According to Alhaji Abubakar, the “sponsorship of the Georgian Cup is one of the longest-standing sports sponsorship in the world. This record sponsorship has been filed by the Kaduna Polo Club for consideration by the Guinness Book of World Records under the longest main sponsorship of a sporting world championship title.”

Expressing the bank’s delight on the sponsorship, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney said, The Georgian Cup Polo Tournament is one of the many heritage sporting sponsorships the outfit has supported over the years.

This year’s event will see notable players like Chris Mckenzie, the best South African polo player; Max Charlton, the best British polo player, as well as other top Argentine players in attendance.

A total of 45 teams will battle for the coveted trophy, which El Amin is the defending champions.