Rubicon Rules FirstBank Sponsored Georgian Cup in Kaduna

The winner of 2019 world-famous Georgian Cup, Rubicon, return to winning ways on Saturday when it defeated the defending champion, El Amin by 9-6 to win its third FirstBank sponsored Georgian Cup.

Parading star players like Bashir Dantata, Abdulmalik Gbadamosi, Argentine imports, Tolito Ocampo and Silvestre Donovan, Rubicon showed superiority in all areas of the game beating Mohammed Babangia’s El-Amin in a 7-chukker thriller watched by polo fans drawn from Kaduna environs and beyond.

The competition which has been sponsored solely by FirstBank of Nigeria Limited for 102-years is already on record as the longest of such sole sponsorship in any sports event.

Reacting to their loss, Mohammed Babangida, whose team, El Amin holds 15 FirstBank Georgian Cup titles, said he accepts the defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship, stressing, losing is part of the game. “In sports, you win some and you lose some”.

Apart from the two finalists, Badako Zaz and Malcomines were the other High goal teams that competed for the Georgian Cup trophy.

Happy at the turnout of the event, Shehu Aliyu, the representative of the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, pledged the bank’s determination to sustain the sponsorship.

According to him, the bank shares value culture of excellence, resilience and determination, a thing the bank holds in high esteem.

He stressed that the bank will continue to make the sponsorship of the event and support for Kaduna Polo Club sacrosanct.

While thanking FirstBank for their dedication to the sport, President of Kaduna Polo Club, Suleiman Abubakar pledged to continue to work hard to maintain the existing relationship between the sponsors and the Club.

Some of the highlights of this year’s event include the Gala Night tagged, “Blue Jacket Night”, in honour of FirstBank’s commitment to Georgian Cup.

Expectedly, 2021 Georgian Cup attracted top government functionaries, businessmen and royal fathers led by the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero among others.