See Polo as Socially Inclusive, Enoh tells NPF... Promises Support.
By Victor UDU.
_The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has promised to provide support to the game of polo,to the extent in which it carries everyone along,not just the wealthy.
Minister of Sports Development who made the call at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) identified Polo as a
sport which receives more attention, support and enthusiasm from the Northern part of the Nigeria.
Given the drive for grassroot sports development, social inclusion and the economic development trajectory of this administration the Minister of sports said the roundtable conversation with NPF would engender the desired goal in the Sports agenda of Government.
" We need to go to the North to encourage and develop the game of polo,given that the followership of polo is centered in that zone of the country.
The ministry will be involved in all sports to the degree of its social inclusiveness,where majority of those involved cut across all stratification of society,regardless of class or political status", Enoh explained.
Senator Enoh stated the Ministry's willingness to work with the NPF and immediately called for an Administrative Secretary to be posted to the NPF,an effort that will give a seamless partnership for the actualisation of goals.
The Minister challenged the President and Executive of the NPF to bring initiatives for the development of Polo sports in Nigeria and called for a content document from the NPF
development of Polo sports in Nigeria and called for a content document from the NPF team which shows clearly how youth inclusiveness can be achieved,and Foreign investors brought in noting that "Due to the demand for more private sector involvement,a National Polo playground can be achieved".
The President of the Nigeria Polo Federation Nura Kangiwa ,Turakin Kebbi gave insight into the game in Nigeria and that Nigeria is one of the largest Polo playing country's in the world,with 27 clubs ,33 Polo fields and over 750 players ,albeit there are challenges the game faces in Nigeria.
"Polo is seen to be a game of the rich,but this is an assumption, Most of the players are sponsored" the president said.
Throwing light on some set backs faced by the Federation, the President of the NPF stated that
"The Federation needs a National playing ground and fields for play,as most of those in existence are privately owned and associations owned besides Kaduna state owning one.
"Nigeria can host international tournaments and even the Polo World Cup if we have a National playing ground ".
Nura Kangiwa said the African Horse Sickness (AHS) keeps foreigners away from bringing their ponies into Nigeria to bask in the warmth of the sun for their nurturing as those ponies are threatened to death with the diseases,a means in which Senegal uses to attract foreign players and their ponies.
He appealed for the government to take measures towards the eradication of AHS and its likes as this reduces foreign investments in Nigeria.
The Vice President of the NPF, Abdul Karim Jubril appealed for government support in the area of training for match officials and players
