The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Friday, inaugurated the newly constructed Headquarters Nigerian Army Polo Association (NAPA) and stables in Maitama, Abuja.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in Abuja.
Yahaya described the Army Polo Team as one of the best in the country.
He said the Nigerian army would continue to support NAPA and other sporting activities by improving on existing facilities and developing new infrastructures.
According to him, the polo game is significant to the the army, as it imbues personnel with requisite equitation skills necessary for the conduct of some special operations and ceremonial parades.
The army chief also commended the management team and other partners of NAPA for their commitment to efficiently manage the club, urging them to sustain the standard.
Yahaya also emphasised the need to positively project the club within and outside the country through active participation in local and international tournaments, as well as engaging the services of experts to enhance efficiency.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NAPA, Brig.-Gen. Adamu Laka, expressed appreciation to the COAS for his unwavering support to the club.
Laka said the support from the COAS had increased the capacity of the club to host the National Army Polo games, which was hitherto hosted twice outside the Federal Capital Territory.
The Secretary of the Guards Polo Club, Aliyu Umar said the association was looking forward to hosting the Commander-In-Chief and International Army games.
“NAPA has excelled in several local and international tournaments, playing against highly rated and skilled opponents such as France, Portugal, Egypt and Morocco.
“The Army Polo club showcased its outstanding performance at the recent King Mohammed V International Polo Tournament in Morocco.
“In expressing the club’s commitment to promoting polo, the association recently presented the Jos Polo President’s cup 2022 and FCT Minister’s cup 2023 to the COAS, when it paid a visit to the Army Headquarters,” he said
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