Polo Fever: FirstBank Georgian Cup Stages Glamorous Return To Kaduna

The prestigious Georgian Cup, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated polo trophies, is making a dazzling return to the esteemed Kaduna Polo Club as this year’s edition of the annual Kaduna International Polo Tournament gains momentum.

Sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the competition will showcase top-tier polo professionals from around the globe competing for the coveted trophy. The event is set to kick off this weekend and will feature renowned players such as 4-goaler Bello Buba, along with a selection of home-grown talents like Bashir Dantata and Abdulmalik Gbadamosi. Additionally, international stars including Argentinean Tolito Ocampo and Silvestre Donovan will inject their flair into this week-long polo extravaganza.

Among the frontrunners is the Kaduna El-Amin team, owned by Mohammed Babangida, a serial winner of the Georgian Cup with an impressive 16 titles to his name—15 of which he clinched with El-Amin, and one with Kaduna Kakuri.

Other notable competitors include the Fifth Chuka Polo team led by former winner Adamu Attah, the reigning 2023 champions Kaduna Kangimi, and Abuja Rubicon spearheaded by Hadi Sirika, among others.
In addition to the historic Georgian Cup, other tournaments will feature the Emir of Katsina Cup (Medium Goal) and the Imani Cup (Low Goal), alongside various other lower-tier cups. However, the Georgian Cup stands out as the highlight of the tournament.

FirstBank donated the Georgian Cup in 1918, making it the oldest and most esteemed polo trophy in West Africa and one of the longest-running sports sponsorships globally. As a sponsor, First Bank highlights a commitment that embodies heritage, values, performance, and quality—an association truly deserving of celebration.