Fifth Chukker wins MTN African polo tournament

The prestigious MTN African Patrons Cup Polo Tournament got to its grand finale last weekend, with Fifth Chukker polo team, the title holders, successfully defending the Patrons’ Cup they won last year.

Displaying their trademark attacking polo, the quartet of Adamu Atta, Mohammed Babangida, Santiago Solari and Benjamin Araya defeated Max Air 11-9 in a tense Patrons’ Cup final match decided on Saturday, at the Kangimi resort in Kaduna.

Watched by crowded stands that included Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who represented the Vice President; Fatima Yero, Kaduna State first lady; Gustavo Dzugala  Argentine ambassador to Nigeria, and top shots of MTN, Fifth Chukker scored three quick goals in the opening chukka on their way to emerging the biggest winners of  the MTN powered international polo fiesta.

Max Air who were eyeing their first title in the prestigious MTN Patrons Cup Polo fiesta, responded with two quick goals in the second chukka to keep their hopes alive, but the defending champions dug deep and kept the airliners at bay to crown their effort with the glittering Patrons Cup. Atta, Babangida, Solari and Araya all scored for Fifth Chukker in the explosive encounter, but it was Araya who accounted for five of the goals in the final, bringing their total goals tally to 29.

The ambitious Max Air squad, parading Dikko Mangal, Lawal Mangal, Gonzalo Bourdieu and Pepe Bourdieu had fancied their chances at the title, but their lose formation could not help their case, even though they mounted pressure in the last two chukkas of the duel. The final result could only fetch them a third place finish in the high stake Patrons’ Cup race, having lost their opening game to the eventual runners-up, Keffi Ponies,  who won one game and lost one in their campaign.

“It was a fantastic campaign, but in the final game Max Air wasn’t an easy one. They came out fighting and at a point took over the lead. But we were too determined to just let it slip by and I want to thank my team mates for their concentration and our numerous fans for their unflinching support,” declared Babangida who captained Fifth Chukker in the successful title defence.

His Max Air counterpart Dikko Mangal who was playing his first MTN Patrons’ Cup tournament congratulated the winners but hailed his team mates for putting up a good fight, though the result was exactly what they expected.

Diego White, Argentine seven goaler, who pivoted the campaign of Keffi Ponies, was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Patrons’ Cup series. A special award he shares with Bello Buba who was the MVP in the General Hassan Cup series of the MTN sponsored polo extravaganza.

Ojo-Oba who represented the Vice President as the special guest of honour in the final, presented the prizes to the winners and the runners-up, while Dzugala, the Argentine ambassador, decorated the Best Playing Pony of the Patrons’ Cup final.