First Bank of Nigeria Limited’s longest running sports sponsorship, the Georgian Cup of the Kaduna Polo Tournament has hit the 100th year, becoming perhaps the longest running sports sponsorship in the world and a Guinness Book of Records potential.
A total of 45 teams are billed to participate in the 2019
tournament which runs from October 12 – 20, 2019 at the Kaduna Polo Club,
Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna.
The Kaduna Georgian Cup Centenary Polo Tournament commenced in 1919, with First
Bank sponsoring the sports tournament for 100 years. The Cup which was donated
by the Bank to the Kaduna Polo Club, is the oldest and most respected Polo
trophy in West Africa.
The 2018 edition of the tournament was won by team El-Amin, billed to defend
its title in the 2019 edition which was keenly contested by other teams;
Rubicon, Imani, Malcomines, Lintex Agad.
Speaking on FirstBank’s unwavering centenary sponsorship of
the Tournament, the President, Kaduna Polo Club, Alhaji Suleman Abubakar said
“the Georgian Cup Polo Tournament is indeed the Premier Polo Tournament in the
country and it has proudly birthed many other sporting events across the
country as well as the West African sub region as a whole. We are honoured to
record such a milestone with FirstBank since the inception of the tournament
100 years ago.
“Indeed, FirstBank remains a noble brand close to our heart at the Kaduna Polo
Club and the tournament has indeed been a catalyst of socio-economic growth of
Kaduna and the nation as a whole” he concluded.
FirstBank’s sponsorship of the Georgian cup is perhaps the longest standing
sports sponsorship in the world, a reflection of a long-lasting partnership
that aligns with heritage, shared values, elite performance and quality, all
attributes worthy of celebration. This record sponsorship has been filed by the
Kaduna Polo Club for consideration by the Guinness Book of World Records under
the longest main sponsorship of a sporting world championship title.
Expressing the Bank’s delight on the sponsorship, the Group Head, Marketing
& Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Folake Ani-Mumuney
said “2019 is indeed an eventful year for us and one of the many highpoints
since we were founded 125 years ago. Part of our excitement stems from the
pride we feel at having supported the Georgian Cup Polo Tournament for 100
years consistently. We are indeed proud to achieve this feat as it reinforces
our leadership role as an institution committed to the continued growth and
development of sports and the economy at large. The Georgian Cup Polo
Tournament is one of the many heritage sporting sponsorships supported by
FirstBank over the years. Another example is the FirstBank 58th Lagos Amateur
Golf Open tournament, in partnership with Ikoyi Club 1938 holding in November
this year which we have also supported for 57 years. We dare say perhaps
another record in sports sponsorship”
This unprecedented Polo extravaganza boasts notable players such as Chris
Mckenzie, the best South African polo player; Max Charlton, the Best British
polo player as well as other top Argentine players in attendance amongst many.
