The ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is enjoying one of its grandest moments, as the Nigerian polo train arrived west, for this year’s Ibadan annual polo festival. Holding at the legendary Eleyele rolling field, the polo extravaganza that draws crowd of royalties, top government officials, captain of industries
and polo enthusiasts in their droves, galloped off 25th January, 2010.
Ibadan Polo Club President, Labi Adeyemi who spoke to Nigeria's premier polo website assured that everything is on ground for what traditionally has been the biggest polo tournament in the whole of Oyo Kingdom.

"We are in high spirit and arrangements are in top gears for a grand polo festival in Ibadan. From every indication, Ibadan’2010 annual tournament is guaranteed to be the most exciting in so many ways and tournament committee headed by the able vice president,Keneth Edet is working round the clock to achieve just that," he declared. Reputed for its pomp and pageantry, the Ibadan fiesta that traditionally
precedes the Lagos international showdown promises to be the biggest and the most competitive in years, with teams from Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi,Port Harcourt and neighbouring Lagos already battling in the rumble.
Ibadan Polo Club Captain, Jubrin Ali said everything was set for a grand event as most of Nigeria’s biggest polo patrons and the best of Nigerian players have all converged for the carnival.

Some of the Nigerian high-goalers who are already plying their trade in the tournament in the former western region of the country out side Lagos, include Dawule Baba, Jamilu Mohammed, Bello Buba, Hamisu Buba, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ibrahim Abba, Mamuda Shehu, Adamu Yaro, Mohammed Kyari, Ibrahim Babangida among others.
Patrons who have arrived include Bashir Yar’Adua whose famous hajara farms is already sending signals of a showdown to opponents in the Oyo capital city with two fully armed teams and trucks load of supporters for event.

Honourable Hadi Sirika who has played and won most of the tournaments with his high flying Rubicon team, has also touched ground in the Eleyele polo heaven.It is also expected that Nigeria’s polo ambassador, who started his polo career in Ibadan over three decades ago, would be leading Kaduna Kakuri in the winners’ takes all race for the Ibadan Cup during the fiesta.

Major prizes to be won during the weeklong fiesta include the prestigious Ibadan Cup which as for decades remains the biggest event cup that pits high goal teams from Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina in some of the most memorable polo finals ever witnessed in Nigeria.
Other trophies at stake include Rotimi Cup, ArthurDay Cup now renamed Ade Alakija Cup to immortalize the former president who passed on last year while serving as president, Saffidinne Cup, NFL Cup and other selected prizes and awards are also tradiional.

The pacy Nigerian polo tour that galloped off a new season with fanfare in the ancient kingdom of Katsina last August headed southward to Port
Harcourt for the Niger Delta Peace Tournament that ended with fanfare only a week ago.