The year’s Access Bank Day, in association with Fifth Chukker, to help raise money to support UNICEF’s projects in Kaduna proved to be a great occasion once more with the sun finally shining on English soil. Held on Saturday at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, the guests, including private clients of Access Bank, were welcomed with a champagne reception in the iconic club house of Guards before moving on to lunch.
Before lunch was served, speeches were made by Access Bank UK CEO, Jamie Simmons and Access Bank Group Managing Director, Herbert Wiwge, and we were led in prayer by ObinnaNwosu. Both Simmons and Wiwge explained the benefits of the money raised through events such as the Charity Shield Tournament and Saturday’s Access Bank Polo Day, in supporting UNICEF with much needed health care and education projects, specifically in the northern state of Kaduna.
The Emir of Kano was in attendance at lunch and throughout the afternoon. For both polo games of the afternoon, His Highness made a ceremonial throw-in to begin each game.
The first game for the Emir’s Cup was between local team Delaney, patroned by Damian Duncan, and Keffi Ponies, patroned by Ahmed Wadada. It was a tightly fought game with Diego White for Keffi Ponies scoring the first goal, followed quickly with a return from Damian Duncan for Delaney. By half time the score was at 3-3 but Delaney quickly stormed ahead with a beautiful goal set up by PiteMerlos for Duncan to score taking their lead to 7-4.Keffi ponies came back strongly in the final chukka scoring two goals to take the final score to 7-6, with Delaney winning.
For the second game of the afternoon, the Access Bank Charity Cup, guests were treated to something very rare in polo. Not only were all four members on the field of arguably the best polo team in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso’s La Dolfina, but they were also joined by Cambiaso’s son, Poroto (Adolfo CambiasoJr) and his daughter Mia Cambiaso. It was a fantastic game, showcasing the incomparable talents of the greats of Pelon Sterling, Pablo Macdonaugh, Juanma Nero and Adolfo. The teams were made up of AdamuAtta playing alongside Mia Cambiaso, Adolfo Cambiaso and Juanma Nero for Access Bank Fifth Chukker and Babangida Hassan alongside Adolfo CambiasoJr, PelonStirling and Pablo Macdonaugh. There was great team work from both teams, with flashes of brilliance from the young stars. It was another tightly fought game with the final score finishing at 4-4.
His Highness, the Emir of Kano, made the prize giving to the teams to bring an end to a very successful day for Access Bank and Fifth Chukker, at one of the most beautiful polo clubs in the world.
Anthony Nlebem
