Fifth Chukker Club looks fresh for Access Bank/UNICEF tourney

All is set for this year’s edition of the Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield polo tournament which will hold at the Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club, Kangimi, Kaduna, from May 25 to June 5.
The venue is wearing a new look, and participating players and their horses have started arriving.
Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, Babangida Katsina, told TheNiche that renovation work began on Saturday, May 14 with the painting of the building and the levelling of the field.
“We need to put a lot of things in shape ahead of the tournament because this is the biggest charity polo event on the continent of Africa.
“The painting of the building has been concluded and we are putting finishing touches to the field where the main action would be.
“By the time we are through with the renovation, we will surely have a successful and fine tournament that we are used to at the club,” Katsina said.
Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club is a private club that caters to a range of equestrian sport activities. It is located half an hour’s drive from Kaduna.
Despite being a private club, it welcomes non-members to visit and enjoy many of its facilities.
Club staff are friendly and eager to take guests around the 300 stables as well as the exercise tracks. The club has a restaurant and lounge bar with vantage positions to watch polo games.
It hosts two main international polo tournaments, Access Bank’s “The Emir of Katsina Charity Shield” (May to June) and “The African Masters Patrons Cup” (October to November).
Katsina confirmed that some of the players have sent in their horses which are being taken care of while they are expecting the players to start arriving from today, Sunday, May 22.
“We are also expecting top officials of our sponsors, the Access Bank management as well as officials of UNICEF and top government functionaries.”
The tournament, the 10th in the series, will feature 15 teams vying for honours in three categories.
The UNICEF Cup will run from May 25 to 29 and both the Access Bank Cup and High Goal Charity Shield will run from June 1 to 5.