Access Bank Cup highlights 2018 PH International Polo fiesta

All the bigwigs in Nigerian polo were all there on Saturday, January 27 when the ‘Garden City’ (Port Harcourt) came alive for the finals of the 2018 Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament sponsored by Access Bank Plc. The annual competition held at the foremost Port Harcourt Polo Club produced five big winners in the major cups categories.

The tournament that galloped off on January 21 attracted Polo lovers from across Nigeria and beyond, including top teams from Kaduna, Kano, Ibadan, Abuja, Lagos, and host Port Harcourt, which paraded some of Nigeria’s most experienced players, and professionals from South Africa and Argentina.

The Access Bank Cup final, decided before a surging crowd that included top government officials business icons, traditional rulers and diplomats, was undoubtedly the star match of the weeklong polo fiesta.

At the event, Swiss international team, parading two South Africans and  two Nigerians, made history as the first ever winners of the glittering Access Bank Cup, defeating their Old Mutual opponents  9-7 after an explosive five-chukka final confrontation.
 
Other big winners at the prestigious polo extravaganza were Abuja Rubicon, who won the T.Y. Danjuma Cup, to emerge the overall champions thrice on the trot, and Almat Group team that clinched the second most wanted prize, the Governor’s  Cup at first attempt.

Two Kaduna-based contenders, Trappco Ranch and Tilla Farms won the Lulu Brigg Cup and King Diette Spiff Cup respectively, to complete the list of major champions at the 2018 Access Bank Port Harcourt Polo Tournament.

The unparalleled commitment of Access Bank Plc in the promotion of polo across the country received official thumps-up from the Rivers State government and traditional rulers from the region.

Rivers State Governor and Grand patron of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Nyesom Wike and the first governor of old Rivers State, His Majesty, King Diette Spiff, both noted that the partnership of Access Bank with Port Harcourt Polo Club has impacted positively on the tournament.

“Access Bank’s participation in Port Harcourt polo this year is quite commendable and I will continue to urge other corporate organizations to emulate the sterling  qualities of Access Bank by joining hands to develop sports in the state and across the country,” King Diette said in his closing remarks.

Ambassador Idaere Gogo- Ogan, who represented Access Bank boss, Herbert Wigwe as the Special Guest of Honour, led other dignitaries to decorate the winners and the runners-up at a colourful closing ceremony that drew the curtain on the international tournament.