WELCOME TO THE LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POLO 2018

Kunle Aluko, HMO & friend

Seyi Tinubu, Kunle Aluko & friend

HMO, Segun Agbaje & Friend

The annual gathering of money bags, young Turks, the creme de la creme of the society and their ladies and kids is on again. It began last week and would run through this week, ending with a bang on Sunday with some top class entertainment. King Sunny Ade and many of our in the moment top artistes and stars have performed at various times, so it's very likely some big artistes would end the annual tournament again this year too.

Polo is not called the "king of games or the "game of kings" just for fun. It's because the patrons of the game are not mere men, but mostly very liquid men. Reason for that basically is that to even afford the horses used to play the game alone is no beans! So in most parts of the world, those who own teams and play the game are the wealthy. Those who have the means but who don't participate actively by playing, buy the best players and horses to play for them. So like it obtains around the world, so also in Nigeria too.

Some of those horses you see people riding like they are notgnot can build a house or buy some normal cars!

So if you have any reason to want to rub shoulders with the creme of the society then, please head immediately to the Polo club Ikoyi, where they would all be at again throughout the week, better still from Wednesday.

Some of those seen at the polo club, Ikoyi venue during the outgone week, were the likes of Kunle Aluko, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Seyi Tinubu and very many others.

This year's sponsor is GTbank, amongst several others though.

Check out their pictures.

More after the break.

KANO TITANS BEAT LAGOS OPPONENT TO WIN MAJEKODUNMI CUP

Wow! wow!! wow!!! This has been one of the best Polo Tournament season ever. This years organisers need to give themselves a pat on the back for a job well-done. It was excitement galore all through. But the players and spectators all had mega fun. And the whole climax came to a head yesterday. 

MAN OF THE MATCH WITH THE RICHEST BLACK PERSON IN THE WORLD ALIKO DANGOTE

MUYIWA IGE & FORMER GOVNOR OF EKITI OTUNBA NIYI ADEBAYO

The team from Kano, known as the Kano Titans showed to all, that they were kings as they beat their Lagos opponents by the slimmest of margins; just one point. But mind you, not without a big fight.

Here is the rundown of how it went-

Kano Ashbert Titans yesterday emerged winners of the Majekodunmi Cup beating Lagos Ironclad Shorelines 12- 11 as the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament came to a halt in an exhilarating way at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi .

The win completes a memorable tournament for teams from the northern state with Kano RTC beating Lagos Caverton in the Low Cup final of the event which has MTN and GTBank as major sponsors.

Toto Gerardo Collardin was the star man of the day helping Titans to hold on to their one-goal handicap advantage heading to the sixth and final chukka.

With last year’s winners and finalists Linetrale Delaney and Fifth Chukka fallen by the way side, Shorelines scored the first open goal with Ahmadu Umar connecting Julio Novillo-Estrada’s pass but Toto was on hand to restore his side’s lead to end the first chukka.

A plus-seven handicapper, Toto again broke free from the middle of the field and set himself up with a with a 60-yard pass before smashing a shot from the goal mouth to widen their lead 3-1. Albert Esiri was the next player to shine for Titans scoring in succession to give his side a 5-1 lead. Thereafter, Eduado Menendez also scored two quick goals but Toto managed to connect the ball with his mallet after Joaquin Pitaluga’s shot stopped just some few yards in the goal area. There was still more time for Eduado to score twice as the chukka ended 6-5.

Scores at the end of the fourth chukka stood at 9-7 as Toto scored three more while Eduado and Julio also hit target. The handicap goal was the difference between the sides by the end of the fifth chukka with Eduardo and Toto scoring once each to keep the tie close heading to the last chukka of which a solitary goal by Toto clinching the biggest Polo trophy in Nigeria.

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THE POLO GROOVE CONTINUES UNABATED- THE 2ND WEEK

ESOSA ANENIH & FRIENDS

DR KUKU & FRIENDS

It's been the time of the higher ranked players since Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at the on going Lagos International Polo Tournament 2013. Since that day, Polo enthusiasts have seen masters of the game of kings, at least in Nigeria do their stuffs. People like the Billionaire owner of MRS Group, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Adamu Atta, Kola Karim and very many others have been having fun playing in high scoring games to the delight of all. 

Kola Karim's team even sent packing the team of the defending champions. So its been fun and excitement galore unabated. This weekend would be the climax of the whole 2 weeks. Come Saturday, March 9 & Sunday, March 10, 2013 at the Polo Club Ground, 5 cups would be presented to the winners in the various categories, Governors Cup, Independence Club, Italian Ambassadors Cup, Lagos Low Cup and the Majekodunmi Cup. 

It's not only going to be about the excitement of the games alone, it's not just about the men of means and their team mates jostling to out do each other. There's also that part where you see some of the most gorgeous ones in town as spectators, dressed casually but deliberately funky and nice.

Then on the evening of Sunday, March 10, 2013 after the excitement of the game itself must have died down a bit, the horses taken to their stables to rest and be groomed and fed. The other fun aspect would start at 7pm. On the bandstand this year, would be the Incredible Ice-Prince Zamani, the very delicious Seyi Shay, the well packaged Lynxx and also the gifted Mr. May Dee. All of these performers would be supported by an outstanding deejay on the wheels-of-steel, churning out incredible jams to the delight of all. 

For those who would love to watch the games. It's just a thousand Naira gate fee. And you all can be part of the excitements and fun. This years main sponsors have been communication giants MTN & Gtbank, other co-sponsors are Atlantic Energy, UBS, MRS, Chapel Hill Denham, Southern Sun, Caverton, Stanbic IBTC, Land Rover, Delaney, Dansa, Radisson & Verve Clicquot. 

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LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT 2013 GALA NITE

HON H.A.B. FASINRO & PARTNER

MARIFA & FRIENDS

MARIFA WHYTE

 The Polo season this year is hot hot. It's not only about the game alone like we already told you, it's also about socializing. And boy have the games been action packed. As part of the activities during the 2 weeks of Polo fun, the Lagos International Polo Tournament 2013 organisers held a Gala nite lastnite Saturday, March 2, 2013. The venue of the classy event was none other than the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event started at about 7pm. 

The invitation card sent out to guests read as follows- The President of The Lagos Polo Club, Hon. H.A.B. Fasinro. On behalf of its committee & Club Members. Cordially requests the company of the guests to The Lagos International Polo Tournament 2013 GALA NITE. 

So members and their guests came out in numbers to have fun and party after a week of action packed games at the Lagos Polo Club, all dressed up to the nines, in their black-tie attires.  They were fun to look at. All before the 2nd phase of the polo tournament would be commence again this coming Wednesday, March 6, 2013. 

As it has become usual with the Polo Club, they normally interface the games with other form of entertainment. Majorly they invite music artists of the moment to come celebrate with them. At the Gala nite, lastnite on the bandstand were the duo of Yemi Sax and later on Wizkid. Both gave very cool accounts of themselves, as the guests all had fun bobbing their heads or tapping their foot as the artists played their kinda music.

We wouldn't want to bore you with too much details. We were at the event and we have some great pictures for all your viewing pleasure. 

Enjoy!!!

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OUT AND ABOUT AT THE LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT PART 2

 Ibah emerge Dansa Cup winners

-as Trojan retain Lagos Open Cup

CHIEF MS NIKE OSINOWO-SOLEYE & ERELU ABIOLA DOSUNMU

OBA OF LAGOS, HON HABEEB FASINRO, PRESIDENT LAGOS POLO CLUB, WELCOMING HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OBA AKIOLU

THE OBA CUP

It has been excitement galore since the beginning of the 13th edition of the Lagos International Polo Tournament 2013. It's like all the team came very well prepared and they weren't ready to allow any team push them over. From the little we have seen and even heard, most of the games have been packed out. Though this year's tournament is only half way done, the committee in charge of the 2013 edition should be given a well earned and well deserved pat on the back.

The very exciting games have come hard and full of energy, everyone has given a fabulous account of themselves. Those who rode and played and even those who were mere spectators/supporters gave it their all.  We have accounts of how things have gone the past few days, garnished with a few action pictures for your viewing pleasure. 

Addo Ismail scored three of his side’s goals as Kano Ibah upstaged Lagos Ericsson 8-5 to win the Dansa Cup at the Tournament. 

The last final of the first part of the double-phased tournament which will resume on Wednesday saw Tavia Trojan beat Goodfellows/Ark 5 -4 to retain the Lagos Open Cup with Santiago Cernadas producing a man of the match performance for the Trojan.

Defending champions Ericsson rallied from a goal deficit to lead 2-1 after Damien Duncan replied twice following Murtala Aliyu’s opening goal from a 40-yard penalty.

Duncan broke away from the roll-in of the second chukka, but could not connect his shot at the vital area thus allowing Aliyu to clear. Tade Oyinlola made a last-ditch effort to clear Ismail’s goal-bound shot on goal, but it was given as it had already crossed the line as Ibah drew level at 2-2.

Aliyu followed up with a missed 60 yard penalty and when a similar situation was presented to Ericsson, Jamilu Umar had his shot deflected off the goal by Ismail. Aliyu and Ismail then scored in quick succession to give Ibah a 4-2 lead heading into the third chukka.

Halifa Ibrahim converted a spot hit to give Kano a healthy 5-2 lead and the gap between the sides was widened further as Addi Ibrahim tapped in from a Nura Shamaki’s shot for 6-2 at the end of the third chukka. AbdulMumuni Musa and Duncan scored within a minute, midway into the last chukka but Halifa profited from a missed clearance by Umar to score while the same player’s goal moments later proved to be an icing on the cake. Umar had before the costly error scored his side’s fifth goal.

In the day’s first match, Lagos Polo Club President Habeeb Fasinro led Edozie Onwuli, Bowale Jolaosho and Elias Kodahy to beat Team B T J Saro, Hassan Fayaad, Yemo Alakija and Ed Higginbotham 5-3 to win the Veterans and Kids Cup. 

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OUT & ABOUT AT THE LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT 2013

SAYYU DANTATA, CHAIRMAN MRS

KUNLE ALUKO & FRIEND

HAKEEM MURI-OKUNOLA & FRIEND

It's another season of the best of the game of kings or more preferably like some would want to call it ''the king of games''. And nearly everyone knows why it is tagged either way. It's not a game for 'small kids' by that we mean neophytes. And also for those who want to play, apart from one being dexterous on the horse, to enjoy playing it one needs to be very liquid. Those stallions or mares (horses) don't come cheap at all. Though membership of the polo club is seemingly at 2 levels now. 

Those who just enjoy the spectacles and just love to rub shoulders with their own likes who are well to do and who don't play the game at all; this category is made up of just social members. But there are those, who enjoy the game on another level, not only do they play, they own and keep several horses in their stables, so they are action members and social ones too. 

This season's international tournament began on  Wednesday, February 27 and would run till Sunday, March 10, 2013 at their usual venue in Lagos, the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi. Like they always do, it's not always just about the games alone, it's also the opportunity to network and socialize on another level. 

Games have been on going everyday since Wednesday. And every evening of the day is the other fun part, listening to the best of music, while having drinks and backslapping or just generally socializing. The tournament would be on for 2 good weeks. The Open Cup & Dansa Cup competitions which started on Wednesday ends this Sunday, March 3, 2013, while the Majek Cup & the Low cup competition starts on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 and ends on the 10th. The last day like they usually do, would now end with a big bang! As there would be a Gala night that we would be covering. Like it obtains, a very big musician would bring the finale to an appropriate ending. We can remember clearly seeing Asa and King Sunny Ade doing their things at different times, bringing the particular year's tournament to the right conclusion.

Check out a few pictures of the actions and also the out and about of the past few days for your viewing pleasure. 

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