Leadership (Abuja)
Ishaku Kigbu
2 March 2009
Dubai — Egg-head and patron of El Amin polo franchise in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Babangida has described the turnout of both Nigerians and foreigners to the 2009 Polo Invitational and exhibition match put together by the Al Habtoor Brothers as very impressive.
This is coming while in a separate interview with the manager of the Dubai Equestrian and Polo Club, Philip Grant told Leadership Sports that the turnout is actually unprecedented since hitherto during games the club only experiences a handful of fans given that the sport is relatively new in Dubai. In his view, he would like to witness more of such encounter involving El Amin to help bring more followership and glamour to the game in Dubai since most times only picnics and social gatherings take the place of fans during their weekly games.
But Mohammed Babangida describing the match as a success noting that the outcome is traceable to the kind of support gotten from the Al Habtoor Brothers to the El Amin team.He said the match was principally to foster and promote healthy business relationship between the two countries, individuals behind the two polo teams as well as explore all business avenues and opportunities that exist in the two economies.According to him, after the field action, captains of lndustry and businessmen invited to be part of the exhibition match would go to a close door business brainstorming session and meeting to perfect strategies concerning the opportunities that exist in the two nations.
The first part of the meeting was held yesterday while the concluding part will hold today. Mohammed Babangida said he is optimistic that both business angle of the event would determine the kind of direction business opportunities that exist in both nations would follow."I am optimistic meetings for Sunday and Monday will be successful and would determine the kind of direction business opportunities will follow. I am very optimistic that there would be opportunities to be exploited between Nigeria and Dubai. This is just the beginning of good things to come from the two countries. We have started well and in a good note. The game went well with excellent understanding and brotherhood. And with the kind of turn out of people that are business inclined, the business aspect of it is very encouraging and l believe that after all our meetings we would have been able to achieve some great networking of business opportunities to be tapped into." The son of the former president said. Expressing gratitude to the caliber of noteable personalities who came all the way to witness the exhibition match, he said the particular presence of the Emir of Katsina and president of Nigeria Polo Association, HRH, Mohammed Kabir Usman who honoured their invitation means a lot. "I am happy with the kind of support from Nigerians in Dubai who came out to support El Amin and particularly excited with the coming of the Emir of Katsina who honoured our invitation as the NPA President. I am also humbled by the presence of former Vice President of Nigeria, Alh Atiku Abubakar. And call on Nigerians to support El Amin wherever it goes." He concluded.
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