By Akeem Lawal
PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF), Francis
Ibrahim Ogboro believes the game of Polo is no longer an elitist game as it is
now being played by any player who has a passion and interest.
According to Ogboro, fortunately for players in Nigeria,
patrons of polo teams are generous and provide horses and other welfare to
players, which makes them play the game even without owning horses.
He said that several players who are not in the class of 'elites'
are playing the game with some even earning their source of livelihood from it.
Speaking further, the NPF President, who for the fourth
consecutive time emerged President of the NPF last week said that even for
those who own horses and have stables, it is far cheaper to play polo in
Nigeria, compared to so many other countries.
"For example, a friend came to the Lagos Polo Club
to watch a game, got interested and decided to start a team. He was able to get
some horses a stable and carried on for four years till he was transferred to
Singapore.
"He called me to give him a recommendation letter,
which I did and I thought he had settled down to the game there, only for him
to call me after some time to apologise to me for wasting my time in
recommending him. He was disappointed that over there, setting up a stable and
playing the game was so expensive, so he couldn't do it there," he said.
The NPF President who said he had been playing polo since
1991, said that he was impressed with the turnout of spectators at the just
concluded Kaduna International Polo Tournament, adding that better things were
on the way.
Nigerian polo players
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