3rd March 2011
TEAMS DETERMINE FATE;
Ibadan Origin, Agad Out of Open Cup Reckoning
As the jostling for honours in the ongoing MTN International Polo Tournament inLagos 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.
27th Feb.2011
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| L-R Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, Mr Dolapo Akerele, president Lagos Polo Club and Mr Karl Toriola, chief technical officer MTN Nigeria during the presentation of the Oba of Lagos Cup at the 2011 MTN Lagos International Polo Tournament |
The first stage of the glamorous MTN International Polo Tournament that has been
spreading excitement across the country, ended last night with a bang with two bumper to bumper cup finals lighting up the city.
The first stage finals which were before a full house at the legendary Ribadu
Road Polo Ground in Ikoyi saw Lagos and Kano teams going neck to neck in their
traditional rivalry to decide the winner of the Dansa and the Lagos Low Cup.
In a dramatic and suspends filled Dansa Cup final, visiting Kano Yakassai came
from behind to snatched a sudden death victory against home boys, Lagos
Petrogroup, smiling home with the glittering Dansa Cup.
The final score line standing at 5-5 at the end of the four regulated chukkers,
the MTN powered grand fiesta went straight to the wire with a tense sudden death
decider that came down in the third minute with a low strike by Yakassai’s top
predator, Idris Ahmed.
‘We came fully prepared because the Lagos guys are always in a killer mood when
playing before their crowd. Our game plan was simple, don’t allow them space and
take every chance that come and it work well,’ enthused Ahmed.
The second game of the day was the prestigious Lagos Low Cup final in which
Lagos Arkpolo gave their teeming Lagos fans plenty to celebrate for, as they
handed the highly ambitious Kano Suleya side a 41/2-3 defeat to clinch their
first ever Lagos major title.
That victory came quite timely for the Lagosians who had earlier watched in
shock as Lagos Petrogroup suffered a sudden death defeat in the hands of another
Kano side in the Dansa Cup.
25th Feb.2011
MTN Polo: Oba of Lagos Cup Takes Centre StageAs the first stage of the glamorous MTN International Polo climax with fanfare
today, the prestigious Oba of Lagos Cup finals stands out as the biggest attraction of the day. The selected cup which is played in honour of the Lagos
monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, will for the first time be contested for by two
sides with team handicap of 13 goals.
Slated as the last game of the day, the battle for the royal prize will pitch
the Iga quartet of Rotimi Makanjuola, Khalifa Ibrahim, Francisco Irastorza and
Marcello Pascual, against their Eko Akete opponents parading Rojo, Ali Birjawi,
Frankie Menendez and Adamu Yaro.
The epic clash to be watch by His Majesty and thousands of polo buffs, promises
to be a thrilling four chukkas combat as all the players are already staking
huge claims for the highly revered crown that has been one of the major
highlights of the MTN polo fiesta for decades now.
The Oba of Lagos Cup final would be preceded by the Dansa Cup and the Lagos Low
Cup finals, described by bookmakers as cliff hangers that would be too close
to call.
The Dansa Cup that attracted 8 teams from Kano, Ibadan and host Lagos, will
pitch Kano Yakassai who outpaced Polo Africa 61/2-4 in the closely fought semi
final game against and home favourites, Lagos Petrogroup who defeated Ibadan
Mokola 3-21/2 in their semi final clash.
Lagos Low Cup final that threw up an interesting match-up, is guaranteed all the
adrenaline rushes as Lagos Arkpolo seek their first major title against the top
running Kano Suleya Oil team that are not ready to take prisoners.
Kano Suleya who win all their games since the MTN grand event galloped off last
Wednesday, defeated Lagos Bell Oil & Gas 8-21/2 in an impressive run that made
this year’s the Low Cup campaigns the most competitive in years.
Their final game opponents could come better than the explosive Lagos Arkpolo
who destroyed the tall ambition of Linetrale with a whopping 121/2 -4 victory in
a tense semi final game that was decided before a full house at the Ribadu Road
polo theatre.
Backed by their teeming fans, Arkpolo who are clearly the highest scoring side
in the race to the Low Cup title that attracted a record nine teams, are
confidence that they would turn back their Kano opponent in the final game. But
it will take more than a mere wish to stop the rampaging Kano Boys in this epic
clash.
MTN Lagos Polo’2011: Bollinger, HST Out of 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 Dansa and Lagos Low cups reach its climax
this weekend.
One Lagos Low Cup pre tournament favorite that failed to raise to the challenge
in this year’s MTN polo showdown s Lagos Bollinger whose campaign ran into the
roughs as they lost their two stream games which ultimately end their tall
ambition.
The Kola Karim powered Bollinger parading Tunde Karim, Adamu Yaro and Ahmadu
Umar lost their opening game 4-2 to local rivals, Bell Oil & Gas much to the
chagrin of the fans who had stormed the Ribadu Road venue of the MTN fiesta in
their number expecting victory.
Their second game did not fare better as new entrants Lagos Arkpolo who had
earlier lost narrowly to Bell Oil, roared back into reckoning, with a 10- 4
spanking to bring down the curtain of the struggling Bollinger.
The Arkpolo and Bollinger clash was watched by a teeming crowd that included the
former Governor of Bauchi State, Allhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Senator Musliu Obanikoro,
Atedo Peterside, Honourable Habeeb Fashinro, Architect Muyiwa Ige and other
personalities who spent hours savouring most of the polo actions.
Another promising side that had thrilled the MTN polo extravaganza in the past
with their running game, but took an early exit this year, is Lagos HST who
bowed to the fire power of visiting Kano Suleya team and the Lagos City Flex in
their stream games, to kiss the prestigious MTN polo’2011 rumble bye, without a
single point in the Low Cup campaign.
HST squad parading Karim Mudiehli, Mohammed Mudiehli, Hussein Jamal and Ali
Berjawi would have to wait till next year to make another attempt at winning any
of the four major prizes at stake in the glamorous Lagos International Polo
Tournament.
Ibadan Challenge would also travel back to their Eleyele base in Oyo State empty
handed, after failing to secure the much needed victories to remain in
contention in the Dansa Cup.
The finals of both the Dansa and the Lagos Low cups in the ongoing MTN
international polo tournament are scheduled for this weekend at the legendary
Ribadu polo ground in Ikoyi.
The star game of Sunday is undoubtedly the Oba of Lagos Cup that would pitch two
equally matched teams in a winner takes all four chukkers explosion. The Lagos
monarch, His Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu would be on hand to present the royal
crown to the winners at the end of the day.
The second part of the MTN/Lagos international Polo Tournament is billed to
gallop off next week from March 2-6, 2011. It promises to a thrilling campaign
as the big boys compete for the ‘Lagos Open’ and ‘Majekodunmi Cup’ respectively.
Other laurels up for grabs during the grand finale include are the ‘the
Governor’s Cup as well as the Independence trophy, reputed as the oldest polo
prize in Nigeria.
Ernest Ekpeyong.
23rd Feb.2011.
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| L-R :MS.EMAMOKE OGORO (MTN SENIOR MGR.HIGH VALUE).MR.DOLAPO AKERELE(SAN)CLUB MANAGER.MR.EBUOKU OSAZE(MGR MTN),MR.AYO OLASOJU (TOURNAMENT MGR.).MR.BODE MAKANJUOLA(POLO MGT COMMITTEE SEC. |
The Lagos international polo tournament is known for showcasing Argentine players during their tournaments and this year will showcase more players compared to previous tournaments.This was confirmed by the tournament manager,Mr.Ayo Olashoju in a press conference yesterday with media officials in Lagos polo club Ikoyi lagos.
There are numerous programes lined up for the tournament among is a fashion show which will come up later during the high goal session of the tournament.
