Friday 4 March 2011

MTN Lagos Polo’2011:





Ibadan Origin, Agad Out of Open Cup Reckoning
As the jostling for honours in the ongoing MTN International Polo Tournament in
Lagos gets into higher gears, contenders have been separated from the pretenders
as the campaign for the glittering Lagos Open Cup hits its climax this weekend.
Two Lagos Open Cup pre tournament favorites who failed to rise to the challenge
in this year’s MTN polo showdown  Ibadan Origins and struggling Lagos Agad watch
helplessly as their campaign ran into the roughs after losing lost their two
stream games which ultimately ended their tall ambition.
The Kenneth Edet led Origins parading Seidu Umar, Jubrin Ali, lost their opening
game 7-8 to Lagos Goodfellows, much to the chagrin of the fans who had stormed
the Ribadu Road venue of the MTN fiesta in their number expecting victory.
They did not fare better in their second game against top firing HGL/Shoreline
who are bracing for a titanic clash against Caverton in the Governor’s Cup final 
on Saturday.
The Shoreline quartet of Obafemi Otudeko, Kola Karim, Ahmadu Umar and their
professional, defeated their Ibadan opponents 8-51/2 in an impressive
performance that saw the visiting Origin trailing throughout the five chukkers
Open Cup confrontation.
Lagos Agad who had earlier lost to Ayo Olashoju’s Tavia/Trojan 10-51/2 in their
opening game decided Wednesday, were left stranded by the top running Kano
Titans who handed them a 10-2 defeat, much the disappointment of their teeming
Lagos fans who were praying for a change of fortune after the Tavia/Trojan
nightmare.
Parading Audu Dantata, Usman Dantata, Mumuni Musa and Adamu Yaro, the Agad boys
who enjoy some decent record in the medium- goal competition, would have to wait
till next year to shore up their bruised echo.
With Origins and Agad completely out of the way, the Open Cup race of the 
Lagos
International Polo’2011 is left wide open for teams in Stream A, Tavia/ Trojan,
HGL/Shoreline, Kano Titans and Goodfellows who after winning their opening game,
are trapped in the Stream of Death as only one team can win the stream and pick
the final ticket.
Bode Makanjuola’s Caverton who will clash with Goodfellows in their opening game
Friday, may well be the surprise side in the Open Cup warfare, but they would
not find it easy with Wale 
Edun’s Goodfellows who are yet to lose any
competitive game since last November.


 The much awaited Majekodunmi Cup opener between defending champions, Fifth
Chukkers and last year’s runners-up, Ashbert/MRS did not deliver the anticipated
spark as the Lagosians who started with three goals handicap advantage did not
give the Kaduna guys  the space to explode.
 The game that was characterized by plenty of stoppages, ended in the fourth
chukker with scores standing at 7-4 in favour of the home boys who play their
second game today (Friday) against local rivals, Linetrale/Trafigura.
 The remaining two chukkers of the Ashbert/MRS game against Fifth Chukker  is
expected to be concluded today (Friday) before the Linetrale/Trafigura clash.

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