Sports Enthusiasts Predict Economic Boom In Kebbi Following Argungu Polo Tourney

Some polo enthusiasts in Argungu on Sunday
expressed joy at the birth of the just-ended
Argungu polo tournament, saying polo’s arrival
will bring economic prosperity to the state. NSK Farms hosted the maiden edition of the
Argungu Polo Tournament at its newly-built polo
field. The tournament was organised by Nura Sani
Kangiwa, who is the Turakin Kebbi and the patron
of NSK Farms, holding between Friday and
Sunday. A cross-section of the polo enthisiasts told NAN
that the coming of polo to the area was something
very great for the people of Argungu and Kebbi
as a whole. Umar Dangiwa, a former governor of Kaduna state
and an indigene of Argungu said: “In my life time,
I never thought that I will get the opportunity to
see a polo tournament being staged in Kebbi state
not to talk of Argungu. “One is delighted to see the effort of one man
pulling a lot of crowd from all across the country
to this small town of ours. “Indeed, this is just the beginning of greater things
to come here, because as more tournaments such
as this are held here the community and indeed
the state will benefit immensely. “A lot of jobs will be created and so many
businesses will thrive. I hope others will emulate
and support his effort here in Argungu, so that a
one-man club will develop into a club of hundreds
of members. “Polo is a very expensive game and maintaining a
club of this magnitude must be very expensive. “So, it is my hope that people around here will join
the young man (Kangiwa) and develop the club,”
he said. Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary General of the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who is an
indigene of Birnin-Kebbi, said: “Contrary to the
general perception, I don’t want to believe that
polo is a new sport in this domain because we are
used to horse events. “From the horse riding to camels, donkeys and of
course, to polo itself. “Although this is the first time this town is hosting a
tournament of this magnitude, but you can agree
with me that the former Sokoto has been known
as the home of polo. “So, this is something that is known to all of us
here,” he said.