El Amin: 20 years of unprecedented success

El-Amin’s achievements as a polo organisation have been phenomenal. Since making its debut in Nigerian polo scene 20 years ago, the team has won every conceivable tournament and trophy on sight, making it not only the country’s best and dominant team, but one of the finest outfits in the world as well.
Mohammed Babangida and his El-Amin super stars have been a team in perpetual quest for glory. Player for player, pony for pony, tournament after tournament, this team has battled and conquers all, to perpetually stamp its supremacy in the noble game of kings.
The Georgian Cup, one of Africa’s most sought after polo prize, was undoubtedly the top of the pack at the recently concluded 2015 Kaduna International Polo Tournament.
The one-cup, three-game, winner-takes-all polo prize remains the oldest and the most revered trophy in this part of the world. This puts the Georgian within the realms of such world-class prizes on offer at the British and the Argentine opens.
The 2015 Kaduna International Polo Tournament left an enduring legacy in the mind of polo enthusiasts and the height of it all was the Nigerian high-goal kings, El-Amin that celebrated their 20th anniversary with a big bang. And expectedly, Mohammed led the team to the most exhilarating final of the Georgian Cup.
Last week’s conquest was their 12th title and a record achievement for any polo team ever in the 400 years old history of the coveted polo crown that has been at stake annually in Nigeria for 95 years now.
Thanks to their daring quest and self belief, their hallmark in the last two decade, El-Amin has dominated not only the Georgian Cup, but other high-goal titles like the Majekodunmi Cup in Lagos, Emir of Katsina Cup in Kano, the Nigerian Cup in Katsina, IBB Cup in Minna and Hassan Katsina Cup in Port Harcourt.
“I’m really proud of the last 20 years. It has been an unbelievable journey,” Mohammed Babangida said with pride. “I’m not too sure it’s the end yet. There is a lot to happen with EL-Amin team.
“I have a lot of time to sit back, relax and assess where we are. Where I am as a person, where I am as a player and maybe sit back and write a few more goals for the next few years,” Babangida declared.
He believes that the future of the game remains very bright in the country.“I think the future of polo in Nigeria looks bright. There are a lot of up and coming players around and a great deal of talents yet to be discovered. Polo is not just a sport; it’s a way of life. It takes over your life, and it has to be all-encompassing,” he added.
El-Amin, only defeated once in the last ten years in the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) circuit, eased past their distant rivals and one time winner, Abuja Rubicon and Keffi Pony, scoring a record 17 goals in a classic display that also fetch them the high profile Argentine Ambassador’s Cup.
The super studs, who had dominated the Georgian showpiece for over a decade now, did not restrict their participation to high stake Georgian alone. EL-Amin organisation also sponsored the ever popular EL-Amin Cup for the seventh year running.
The glittering EL-Amin Cup which is one of the four major polo titles at stake in Kaduna was this year won by Abuja Tallatu team that battle through a crowded field of 22 ambitious oppositions to snatch a 7-6 sudden death victory against Katsina Gobarau in the final.
In the medium-goal Emir of Katsina Cup, Katsina Kangiwa overwhelmed Kaduna Kawo to clinch the royal crown. Port Harcourt Ayutan were the newest faces on the Kaduna’2015 Prize Podium, thank to their hard fighting 4-31/2 win over Kaduna Jaiz Bank team in a tense final game.