The much-awaited Polo tournament is finally back in Lagos. The 2016 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament kicked off on Wednesday at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi with Lagos STL and Ibadan Megamound setting the GTBank and MTN sponsored tournament in motion.
The tournament is scheduled to hold for two weekends and will run from February 10 to 14 and then 17 to 21 respectively.
STL has Tobi Edun, a +2 handicap as their top player and the team also has Omololu Agoro -2, Seyi Tinubu -1 and Dantala +1 while Megamound will count on the duo of Saidu Umar and Yusuf Katako who are both +2. Adeoye Ajibade and Jude Odewale who are both -2 handicap complete the away team.
The Dansa Cup match will set the tone for action in a four-game first day hostilities which will also see Lagos Powerhorse which has Abba Bashir Dantata +2 as their star man confront Kano Titans 2 which boast of Halifa Ibrahim +2 in another Dansa Cup clash.
Lagos Tavia Ironclad will square off with Kano YY Subline to spark hostilities in the eight-team Open Cup while the last game of the day will see Lagos Ark Polo confront Caverton Polo also in the Open Cup.
Tavia Ironclad with a total of +10 team handicap has Bowale Jolaosho -1, Ayo Olashoju 0, Bernal David +5 and Marambio Cruz +6 while Sublime with a total of +11 handicap, has in their fold Suleiman Bello 0, Martinez Juaregui +4, Manuel Crespo +7 and Yarima Yusuf 0.
The all +11 handicap encounter between Ark Polo and Caverton will be battle of brothers as Kayode and Tayo Awogboro team up with Santiago Cernadas +6, and another player of +3 handicap to confront Caverton which has Rotimi and Bode Makanjuola alongside Leroux Hendrix +5 and Jack Richardson +6.
There are five-cup titles to be won in the two weekends tournament with the first final billed for February 14 while the second week will run from February 17-21.
The cups are sponsored by Union Bank, Chapel Hill Denham, HIS, ARBICO, Dansa while the co-sponsors are Interswith, Powerhorse, CS Global Partners, Eko Atlantic, Old Mutual, Samsung, Southern Sun, Veuve Cliquot, W8 Advisory, Lagos State, Pepsi, Brand Communications and Blowfish.
The media sponsors are Hello Magazine Nigeria and Ebony TV.
Meanwhile, one of the main sponsor, GTBank, has promised continued support for the tournament.
Oyinade Adegite, GTB Senior Manager, Communications and External Affairs, pledges continuous support for the tournament stressing that it serves as a one of the platforms for the bank to connect with the public through sports.
“At 112, this is the oldest Polo Club in Nigeria and we are happy to have put out a new field; the greenest you could ever found,” he remarked.
Apart from GTBank and MTN, which are the main sponsors, the Cups are sponsored by Union Bank, Chapel Hill Denham, HIS, ARBICO, Dansa.
