Tavia Trojan win Oba of Lagos Cup…as Ericsson set up Dansa Cup final with Kano Dala

Santiago Cernades inspired Lagos Tavia Trojan to win the Oba of Lagos Cup by beating Kano Titans 10^½ - 8 yesterday at the Lagos Polo International Tournament.

Troajan which parades Ayo Olashoju, Mario Gomes and Kunle Tinubu made good advantage of their 1^½ handicap goal to retain the title they also won last year.

In another match played yesterday, Mohammed Mdheli scored all of his side’s goals but Jamilu Umar stole the show as Lagos Ericsson beat Lagos HST 6-4 to set up a final clash with Kano Ibah for the Dansa Cup as the first set of titles are concluded today in the Lagos Polo International Tournament.

Umar scored twice in the opening chukka converting a 10-yard penalty and another 20 yards tap-in but Mdheli reduced the tally by half with a low shot in a crowded goal area for 2-1. However, Abdulmumuni Musa scored a brilliant individual goal that saw his shot rolled into the goal in a move he started from about 100 yards.

 

Umar thereafter took over the match scoring three successive individual goals the last of which drew a resounding applause from the enthusiastic polo faithful that thronged the Ribadu Road Polo club.

Mdheli then scored two quick goals just before the close of the third chukka to reignite the hope of a great comeback by the HST who were trailing 6-3 heading into the final chukka.

 

Although, Mdheli managed to score another goal after Tade Oyinlola missed a clearance shot, it was too little too late as the match came to an end seconds later.

In a match that preceded the tie, Kano Ibah continued their impressive form by whitewashing Ibadan Mapo by 7-1^½ in a match which saw Halifa Ibrahim displayed great polo skills to spearhead a one-sided game.

Ibah had defeated Ibadan Eleyele in their first match and outclassed the Oyo State-based team who stated the match on a ^½ goal handicap advantage.

The wins by Ericsson and Dala rendered the day’s first match between Lagos T-Raiders and Ironclad academic with the Hustlers winning the hard-fought encounter 7-6 ^½ 

^-Nadya.

Lagos Int'l Polo: Trojan, Titans battle for Oba of Lagos Cup

Lagos Tavia Trojan and Kano Titans will today battle for the Oba of Lagos Cup in the Lagos Polo International Tournament which heads to its first set of finals this weekend.

Yesterday, Henry Edozie made a frantic last-gasp goal-line clearance to help Ibadan Eleyele record an enthralling 7-6 ^½  win over Kano Dala to keep his team on course for a place in Sunday’s final in the Dansa Cup.

Dala started the match on an 1^1/2 handicap advantage but they soon find themselves trailing after the first chukka with two quick goals by Edozie and Elias Kordahy.

Man of the Match Edozie wriggled his way out of challenge by Kabiru Bello to widen their advantage at the start of the second chukka but Nura Shamaki tapped in a backhand and scored another one under high pressure from Mustapha Abu to take his side into the lead at 3-3^1/2. There was still tinme for Hassan Fayad to sroce as Kano restore their lead to 4^1/2 - 3.

Edozie and Usman Mohammed scored within minutes in the third chukka but at the end of the chukka scores stood at 6^1/2-5 advantage Dala with Edozie scoring the last goal of the chukka to set up a nail-biting final chukka.

Kordahy missed a 60yard kick moments after Edozie had scored for Eleyele to make scores at 6-6^1/2.  He was not done yet as he finished off a brilliant move after he was put through by Elias.

Aftyer losing their first match to Ibadan Mapo, Kano Dala know they have slim chance to progress and they put all their energy to find what would have proved to be a winning goal in the dying minute of the match but Edozie will not be denied his glory as he made a frantic clearance off the line just before the match was bought to and end. They will now wait for the outcome of Saturday’s clash between Lagos T-Raiders and Ironclad Hustlers to know their fate regarding Sunday's final of the Dansa Cup.

Lagos Polo International Tournament

2013 Lagos Polo Int'l Tournament: Ericsson outclass Hustlers in 11-goal thriller

Mumumi Musa opened and closed scoring for Lagos Ericsson on Thursday to record a 6-5 win over Lagos Ironclad Hustlers as action intensifies in the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament.

The Dansa Cup match seems to be turning a one-way affair as Ericsson raced to a 4-1 lead in the first chukka but Salisu and Amodu Umar spearheaded a great comeback for the Hustlers who justified their name by forcing the match into sudden death as the scores were tied at 5-5 after the fourth and last chukka.

With the goal widened by an additional 50%, Musa calmly converted a golden goal penalty to win the tie for Ericsson who are one of the favourites to win the title.

In the day’s second match, T-Raiders proved that they are not to be underrated as they took HST to the cleaners with a resounding 7 ^½ -2 win over their higher rated opponents in another Dansa Cup encounter.

 Rotimi Makanjuola scored in quick successions to give the Raiders a 4^{½ -} 0 lead before Mohammed Mdheli pulled a goal back for HST at the close of the first chukka.

 Raiders’ hitman Bashir Musa amended for his 60-yard penalty miss as he scored for a 5^½ - 1 lead and by the end of the third chukka, the lead had been extended substantially to 7^½ - 1. Funsho George scored the only goal of the fourth chukka and the game was brought to an end in a comical way as Mdehli was denied what was a clear chance as his pony kicked the ball off the goal mouth just before the end of the match..

Kayode Awogboro’s Lagos Goodfellow/Ark and Taju Dantata’s Kano Titans were billed to battle in the final match of the day.

Thursday’s matches will see Kano Dala confront Ibadan Eleyele in a must-win match for the sides in the Dansa Cup following the sides’ defeats in their opening games while Kano Eurovote/Sublime Group clash with Lagos Goodfellows/Ark in the Open Cup.

LAGOS 2013 INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNEY BEGINS.

The 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament will gallop off today with nine trophies up for grabs in the prestigious event. Billed for the legendary Ribadu Road Polo Club, this year’s edition promises to be the most competitive and the most exciting in years with solid backing from MTN who are joined by Guarantee Trust Bank and Atlantic Energy as the major sponsors to compliment the host of other sponsors. Kano-based Dala and Mapo from Ibadan will get action underway in the Open Cup while the rivalry between sides from the two states will continue almost immediately with Ibah and Eleyele also jostling for supremacy in the second match of the day which is under the Dansa Cup. The final game of the opening day, which is another Dansa Cup match, will see Lagos Travia Trojan face Eurovote/Sublime Group from Kano. Tournament manager Tade Oyinlolla said during Tuesday’s press conference that the Lagos Polo club have been setting the pace stressing that this years’ edition will not be an exception with high and low goals for all the cups. “The Lagos Polo Club is ready for the polo fiesta and we have carefully packaged the event for ultimate satisfaction of all the participating players, our sponsors, invited guests and polo enthusiasts,” he said. President of the Polo club Honourable Hon Habeeb Fashinro said this years’ edition will be unique as it is segmented into two weekends of bumper-to-bumper exciting world-class action which will be laced with the dexterity of professionals from Argentina, South Africa and Europe. Some of the titles at stake include, Governor’s Cup, Independence Cup, Oba of Lagos Cup, Italian Ambassador Cup as well as the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup, the highest valued of all the cups.

By. Nadya Froesch.

IBADAN 2013 MTN POLO INT"L TOURNEY ENDS.

The Ibadan/MTN international tournaments ended today 17th February 2013. For more updates of the tournaments, check back later or visit our websites www.polonetworkafrica.com

Bentley Polo season 2012 in Europe:

The relationship between man and horse has existed for at least 7,000 years. No other animal has influenced man like the horse – by lending us its strength and speed, it became an incubator for human evolution, allowed us to travel and migrate, to cultivate our fields and became vital to history played out on the battlefield. This fascinating symbiosis has also been central to the sport of Polo, the unique speed and power of horses on the field is the reason why Polo has survived for millennia.
We are proud to have Mr Hans-Albrecht Freiherr von Maltzahn, President of the German Polo Association, as patron of the Bentley V8 Polo Team in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Berlin.
Bentley Bremen: Berenberg Polo-Derby - 1st-3rd June 2012
Bentley Hamburg: 2nd Hanseatischer Dolzer Polo Cup - 29th June-1st July 2012
Bentley Düsseldorf: Berenberg High Goal Cup - 6th-8th July 2012
Bentley Lugano: Polo Cup Ascona - 13th-15th July 2012
Bentley Hamburg: German Polo Masters Sylt – Sal. Oppenheim Gold Cup - 27th-29th July 2012
Bentley Frankfurt: Berenberg Trophy - 17th-19th August 2012
Bentley Motors: Polo Gold Cup – 17th-19th August, Gstaad, Switzerland
Bentley Stuttgart: 10th Polo Emotions Cup - 7-9 September 2012
Bentley Berlin: Bucherer Polo Cup - 21st-23rd September 2012

5TH CHUKKER ACCESS BANK UNICEF CHARITY SHIELD 2012

From May 23rd-27th & May 31st-June 3rd, 2012, the city of Kaduna will once again become a beehive of activities, as polo action will resume at fifth chukker lawns, for another edition of the Unicef Charity shield international tournament. Top Nigerian and international players will clash mallets with one another in the quest for supremacy.
The media personnel of fifth chukker, Billy Zack, in his words, said there will be a press conference in view of the tournament next week in Lagos. Date and time is yet to be confirmed as at the time this story was edited.