Ark, Dangote, Megamound bounceback ...Shoreline, Ashbert battle for Oba of Lagos Cup.

Lagos Ark Polo and Lagos Dangote Polo both secured precious wins in the Open Cup on Friday in the 2016 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament. There are also wins for Ibadan Megamound and Lagos Bonhams in the Dansa Cup.

Dangote survived a late fightback by HST, who were still ahead less than two minutes to play but they were undone by late goals from Bashir Dantata and and Mohammed Baba Dangote to clinch a 9-7 1/2 win.

Dantata got the game's opening goal in about 12 seconds but Kwame Is a responded soon for HST.

Dantata scored three goals in the second chukka to extend Dangote's lead to 4-3 1/2 as Isa and Ali Berjawi also forced themselves in the scorers' sheet.

Babangida Hassan took the ball from his own half to score the only goal in the third chukka and another goal by Dantata opened the fourth chukka as Dangote stretched their lead to 6-3 1/2. 

However,  Abdulrahman Mohammed scored three successive goals, the second of which was a diagonal shot from the side which rolled to the goal much to the delight of the crowd as HST took the lead again.

Berjawi then made it 7 1/2- 6 but Dangote saved the best for the last as Babangida and Baba Dangote's goals sandwiched Dantata's goal which followed an improvisation as he flicked the ball off his pony and set himself up before finishing with a low shot.

The first Open Cup encounter saw a great performance by Ark Polo rewarded with an impressive 8- 4 1/2 win over Lagos Tavia/Ironclad as Santiago Cernadas had his play largely complimented by Tayo and Kayode Awogboro, with the former scoring the fastest goal so far recorded in the tournament after just nine seconds.

Ark were 2- 1/2 goal up inse the first minute as Roman scored off a three touch running over 80 yards.

Tayo and Cernadas, a six-goal player, each scored a goal in the second chukka which highlights had the Awogboro siblings comically missed their shots seconds apart as they attempt to score.

Ark continued their domination in the third chukka which ended at 7- 1 1/2.  Cernadas and David Bernal-Davydenko both exchanged goals but few minutes later, Ayo Olashoju fell heavily off his pony to end his participation in the match. 

The Lagos Polo Club captain, who soon became conscious and stable was replaced by Kanyisola Owoeye to team up with Bowale Jolaosho,  Chino 'Santi' de Estrada and Bernal-Davydenko.

A few goals in the final chukka by Tavia/Ironclad made the scoreline a bit decent.

In the Dansa Cup, Megamound defeated Powerhorse 11-8 1/2 while a day of mixed fortune for Ibadan teams saw Ibadan Jericho lost a 4- 1/2 first chukka lead against Lagos Bonham's who triumphed 7 1/2- 6.

Four matches are scheduled for Saturday among which will see Lagos Shoreline and Lagos Ashbert battle for the Oba of Lagos Cup.

-Lukmon

2016 NPA Lagos Intl' Polo: Kano teams shine on opening day

The 2016 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament galloped-off amid a scintillating atmosphere on Wednesday at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi with teams from Kano bagging wins over their Lagos counterparts.

Massive infrastructural upgrade of the venue notably of which was the field which is now lush-green necessitated the tournament to be put-off last year but polo faithful were made to savour the return of the top-rated tournament as they were treated to high-class actions.

The first match of the day between Lagos STL and Ibadan Megamound was postponed till Tuesday noon for technical reasons but it was fireworks from then on as Lagos Powerhorse and Kano Titans size-up to hit the ground running for the tournament which will hold in eleven days sreading across two weekends.

Powerhorse started the Dansa Cup match with a two-goal up due to their handicap inferiority but the Titans pecked them back with goals by Khalifa Ibrahim and Hassan Fayad, who replaced Gambo Usman. Abba Bashir Dantata shots Power horse to the lead once again not but the lead was wiped off in a jiffy by Khalifa, a +2 handicap to close score in the first of the five-chukka match  3-3.

Khalifa took a stranglehold on the match as he scored all the four goals of the second ckukka to give  the away team a commanding 7-4 lead. He continued to run the show scoring agoal each in the third and fourth chukkas. The final chuka saw fellow+2 handicap Cantata scored a brilliant individual goal for Powerhorse much to the delight of the neutrals but it was Khalifa who took the praises as he closed the game with a belly shot for a 12-4 win for the Titans.

A memorable day for Kano teams was completed by Kano YY Sublime, who defeated Lagos Tavia/Ironclad 12-4.5 goals in Match No 3. This time, it was Manuel Crespo show as the +7 handicap Argentine scored 10 of his side's goals in the Open Cup game.

Bowale Jolaosho hits a low follow-up shot for the opening goal of the match but it turns to be a goal that sparked YY's fury as Crespo converted two 60 yards kicks and topped it with a low shot just before the bell sounds for the end of the first chukka.

Martinez Jauregui, a +4 handicap, forced himself into the scorers list to register the away team's seventh goal after Crespo had scored three more goals in the second chukka.

The enormity of the task for Tavia/Ironclad was made Herculean as two more goals in the third chukka widens YY's lead with the most memorable action of the chukka saw Jauregui rode-off Marambio Cruz for Crespo to walk into the goal for the coolest of finishes for a 9-2.5 goal lead for the Kano side.

The last match of the day, which was also in the Open Cup  saw Caverton and Ark Polo going neck-and-neck with scores at 4-4 as at the fourth Chukka of the fourth match but Santiago Cernadas finished off a move which he initiated to give Ark a slim advantage heading to the fifth chukka of the all-Lagos encounter which ended in 6-6 to force sudden death.

Ark will considered theirselves unlucky as Kayode Awogboro shot just before the bell for what would have been the winning goal but it came off the goal post.

 That provided South African Enrique Leroux to ne the match winner as he converted a 40-yard 'golden goal' for Caverton.

Alongside the postponed STL and Megamound match, four matches are on the card on Thursday.

 

By Lukmon Ologunro

2015 MTN/Kano polo Highlight

The on-going Kano polo tournament came to a break last weekend to end the first phase of the double phase tourney which is proudly sponsored by MTN among other sponsors.
The first phase of the tournament saw  teams compete is various cadre ranging from the Prestigious MRS and Dantata cups to selected cups.
The following Teams emerged winners of the major cups:

MRS CUP WINNER- KANO VALDA

DANTATA CUP WINNER -LAGOS MARINA

2015 MTN IBADAN POLO; Lagos Teams win top laurels..Kano Valda amongst winners.

 Arc. Muyiwa Ige and Nabil Dantata

The 2015 MTN Ibadan polo tournament came to a conclusive end yesterday. The 5 day, single-phase tournament saw in attendance creme de la creme of the society. Also, the tournament exhibited top NPA Polo players and potential players.

For complete story look out for poloplus magazine edition 3.

2015 DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SECOND PHASE UNDERWAY

Guys the Julius Baer Gold Cup 2015 ( Dubai Open) Kicks Off on Monday 23rd Feb, and on Friday 27th Feb will be the first amazing weekend of the tournament. Don't Miss It Out!
Bring your friends and family to witness the Sport of Kings and an unforgettable day out at the Polo. FREE ENTRY

DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SERIES 2015

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

 

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2015 (Dubai Open) 18 Goal Handicap is the most prestigious international polo tournament in the in Middle East, Asia and Africa. The premier polo competition of the year involves the world's best polo teams and players battling it out to win the cup.

 

This is the sixth year in a row, our organization has produced a high quality social and sporting event. It serves us to promote Dubai to be one of the leading polo nations in Middle East and worldwide. It takes place at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, Arabian Ranches in Dubai. 

 

The series is split into two tournaments with 5 chukkas in a match that will start next year with the “McLaren Cup 2015”, beginning 23^rd January and ending 06^th February 2015. The “Dubai Polo Gold Cup” will commence on 23^rd February and will end on 13^th March 2015.

 

Ten International Polo Teams Confirmed for the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2015:

§  Mahra Polo ~ Patron Rashid Al Habtoor

§  Bin Drai Polo Team ~ Patron Saeed Bin Drai

§  Habtoor Polo Team ~ Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor

§  Ghantoot Polo Team ~ Patron HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

§  UAE Polo Team ~ Patron  Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

§  Abu Dhabi Polo Team ~ Patron Faris Yabhouni

§  Zedan Polo Team ~ Patron Amr Zedan

§  Desert Palm 1 Polo Team ~ Patron Rashid Al Bawardi

§  Desert Palm 2 Polo Team ~ Patron Tarik Al Bawardi

§  Edrees Polo Team ~ Patron Sultan Edrees

 

 

About Dubai Polo Gold Cup

 

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup was founded in 2009 and it’s now a series of two premier Polo events in the Middle East. The most prestigious polo tournament in the Middle East, Asia and Africa and is a meeting point for the Dubai Society Elite, Royalty, famous personalities, senior corporate executives and fans with  the world’s best international Polo teams competing.

 

Played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the Gold Cup is being played according to HPA rules and the provision of umpires will be managed under strict international supervision by the HPA.

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series is the fourth-largest tournament of its kind after Argentina, the US and the UK. Each year the event reaches new heights growing in tandem with the city of Dubai which has quickly gained popularity and found its place on the Polo world stage . In 2012 the Dubai Gold Cup Series was recognized by the World Polo Tour (WPT) and in January 2014 the WPT committee announce that the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series’ has enabled it’s important tournament (Gold Cup) for being the highest tournament in points within the Challenge Cup category by raising to 50 points for the winners. The certificate of entry was presented by the international polo.

 

 

[END]

 

 

Cristina Gusita

Polo Coordinator General

Dubai Polo Gold Cup

E-mail: cristina@dubaipologoldcup.com

For more information visit: www.dubaipologoldcup.com

Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament Opens

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Ms. Jean Gough,  UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Victor Etuokwu, Executive
Director, Access Bank Plc and Adam Taylor, Fifth Chukker Tournament  Manager at the
Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield pre-tournament press conference in Lagos today.

Twenty-four high-powered polo teams from across the globe are gearing up for Africa’s premium polo extravaganza as the annual Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament commences at the Fifth Chukker Lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna from May 20 to June 7, 2014.

The month-long tournament sponsored by Access Bank is in its 7th year running. The Access Bank Charity Shield was inaugurated by Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club in 2003 as a fund raising platform to support local charity organizations.  Since 2006, however, this effort has been exclusively geared towards UNICEF’s intervention projects for orphans and vulnerable children.

The Access Bank-UNICEF polo fiesta which has been the biggest sporting attraction in Nigeria and indeed Africa for over a decade, promises to be competitive and exciting, with the introduction of the brand new Fifth Chukker Cup. The annual tournament has established itself as the biggest and greatest attraction, regularly pulling some of the most accomplished players in world, royalty and heavy hitters in politics and industry.

The low-goal Fifth Chukker Cup gallops off May 20th, with ten equally matched teams jostling to make history as it first winner, is billed to climax on Sunday, May 25, at the lush lawn of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna. Teams vying for the low goal title are Sheyi Oyinola’s SAO Polo who is set to rekindle their rivalry against Hakeem Shagaya’s Unity Polo after their much talked about Dansa Cup clash in Lagos last February.

Others include Engineer Sani Umar’s Kano Susplan who is seeking to improve from their Lagos Low Cup runners’ up finish recently, and Louis Enriguez powered Goly Polo team which is set t arrive from Spain for the polo tourney.  The list also include Yusuf Garba’s Kaduna Yula Farms, Opaque Liberty, Ibah Oil & Gas, Niyya Farms, Optimum Riders and Babaduna Kaloma led Terra E&P that has been part of the Charity Shield in the past three years in the Access Bank Cup category.

Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, Babangida Hassan Katsina who disclosed the list of participating teams, expressed delight that the charity event has grown to become one of the biggest humanitarian events on the continent, insisting that his polo is proud to continue in its development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF.

“Fifth Chukker is proud to continue in its development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. The level of play continues to raise the bar in Nigerian polo and captures a truly international following; the charity work follows in a similar fashion,” Babangida added.

He also added that Fifth Chukker is proud to welcome Mr. Kanu Nwankwo, Nigerian ex-international footballer as the 2013/2014 Charity Ambassador who will represent Fifth Chukker on charity initiatives concerning the welfare of the vulnerable and underprivileged children of Nigeria.

Earlier, Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu had said that proceed from sale of memorabilia at the annual tournament in addition to the N10million donation from Access Bank doubled from the annual N5million, would be used to support UNICEF in its campaign against HIV AIDS pandemic projects for orphan and vulnerable children”.

“This year’s tournament is more than an affirmation of our commitment to socio-economic wellbeing of mankind and acknowledgement of the impact the initiative has had on the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children northern Nigeria especially in Kaduna state; it is also an opportunity for providing special care for Access Bank’s customers through our Private Banking services”.

“Access Bank’s sponsorship of the tournament is as a result of the similarities in the tournament’s objective and the Bank’s relentless campaign against the pandemic,” Etuokwu pointed out, adding that Access Bank is committed to supporting the charity shield event which is organized in partnership with UNICEF and the Fifth Chukker Polo tournament.

“UNICEF looks forward to expanding this partnership to advocate the realisation of children’s rights with special focus on safe and friendly school environments and early marriage says Jean Gough”, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria

So far, more than N100 million has been raised during the charity event, for underprivileged children in northern Nigeria and this has been hailed as a huge achievement for a sporting resort that began only ten years ago, and one that will ensure the success of the ‘Game of Kings’ in Nigeria for many years to come.