Ghana celebrates Nigeria's Golden Jubilee

Nigeria's much-anticipated Golden Jubilee Independence anniversary, which took place on Friday, was marked by nations and people around the world.

In Ghana, the Accra Polo Club lined up a series of activities to mark the event. As part of the festivities, the club's best players will take on their Nigerian friends and business associates this evening in a Golden Jubilee Polo game that is guaranteed to be one of the biggest events in Ghana.

Michael Mahama, Captain of the Accra Polo Club, disclosed this in the Ghanaian capital city.

"This is in furtherance to our resolves to wish all our Nigerian brothers and sisters a befitting Independence Anniversary," Mahama said about the highprofile annual competition between both countries.

"We also want to use this august event, to rejoice with Nigerians and the Nigerian business community in Ghana on this milestone and it is our collective hope that this golden jubilee celebration will further cement our bond of friendship and further the popularity of the noble game of polo among us." The Accra polo captain, fondly called Energy by his friends, urged the Ghanaian sporting public to rally behind their team. The ‘crack Ghanaian squad' has such big names like, Jamil Ibrahim, Sulemana Iddrisu, Eric Gene and Harold Awuah Darko in its lineup.

Though he did not disclose the list of Nigerian friends invited for the game, it was gathered that the invited Nigerians include top players like Damian Duncan, Musty Fashinro, Kehinde Sanyawo and Kola Karim.

The Nigerians won the event last year and are looking forward for a repeat performance, but Energy has promised that Ghana will exact a sweet revenge this time round.

The independence anniversary clash will be preceded by a curtain raiser pitting junior teams from both countries; that are all products of Oho Sports Development Academy funded by Ahmed Dasuki.

Kaduna weighing in

While the Accra Polo Club, which nestles off the runway of the Accra airport, is hosting the game, the legendary Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna will be bubbling with activity as the polo fraternity treat Nigeria's Vice President Namadi Sambo to a special Golden Jubilee polo event.

At the last count, eight battle-ready teams, complete with all the big names of Nigerian polo, from Kaduna and Katsina were confirmed for the two days event expected to climax with fanfare this evening.

According to Kaduna Polo Club Captain, Ali Hassan, four teams - IMAD Oil & Gas, Petroland,

BJ Ultimate and Katsina Masanawa, will battle for the event's biggest prize, the Vice President Cup.

The Vice President Golden Jubilee Championship is sponsored by Imad Oil $ Gas Group, with the quartet of Imad Shipping, Maigidi BBC, Micro finance Bank and Katsina IT Sec.

Kaduna Polo Club Vice-President, Mohammed Babangida will lead Imad Oil & Gas team comprising, Ibrahim Kankia, Ibrahim Abba and Abubakar Dagazau, in their quest for the VP Cup, while visiting Katsina Masanawa is banking on, Lawal Mangal, Ado Madawaki, Tijani Hassan, Aminu Gagare for the same laurel.