Management of the foremost Lagos Polo Club is in a buoyant mood as the 2023NPA/ GTCO Lagos International Polo Tournament gallops off to a blistering start Saturday, January 28 with a record 36 teams jostling for top honours in four major prizes and six subsidiary laurels.
The ambitious teams fully armed with foreign professionals and fortified with thoroughbred Argentine horses are competing for the Silver Cup, Lagos Low Cup, Open Cup and the event’s biggest prize, Majekodunmi Cup respectively.
The subsidiary prizes are, the Oba of Lagos, Governor’s Cup, Adedapo Ojora Memorial Cup, Sani Dangote Cup, the Italian Ambassador’s Cup and the Independence Cup, Lagos Heritage Cup, Chief of Naval Cup, and Independence Cup would also be won during the fiesta reputed as the oldest polo tournament in Africa, dating back to the early 1900s.
For the second time in the rich history of the international polo festival, the glamorous event would be decided over three weeks of bumper to bumper polo actions with six equally matched teams jostling for the Open Cup from January 28 to February 5 in the opening week.
The highly revered Majekodunmi Cup will take the center stage from February 7-12, 2023 with three teams including the defending champions, Lintex, former champions Leighton Kings and a debutant battling for the top prize.
The last week of February 7, 2023 would feature 27 teams drawn from major polo centers across the country locked in battle royale for the Low Cup and the Silver Cup and respectively. The race for the two major prizes gallops off February 8, while the winners are billed to emerge on February 19, in the final games of the tournament.
“It’s going to be three weeks of thrilling polo experience for our esteemed sponsors, partners and lovers of the noble game.” Tournament Manager, Olumayowa Ogunnusi disclosed.
Ogunnusi who commended the main sponsor GTCO and other sponsors stated that having gained reputation as one of the biggest polo tournaments in Africa, the Lagos Polo Club look forward to delivering great values for the sponsors and participants during the epoch fiesta.
Polo Captain, Rotimi Makanjuela , who gave a break of the teams vying for top honours also disclosed that professional players from Argentina, United Kingdom, South Africa, and professional umpires will also feature in the tournament.
Polo Club president, Bode Makanjuola stated that the club is rejuvenated with the continuous infrastructural upgrade stressing that the entire club has been primed for safety of players and horses to go with international standard.
Makanjuola also stated that with the number of teams and the caliber of players who would showcase their awesome skills, the 2023 edition promises an intense competition and a wonderful experience of entertainment for sponsors, players, guests and polo buffs alike.
Representative of the Mani Sponsor, GTCO, said the sponsorship of the 2023 NPA/GTCO Lagos International Polo Tournament, which has grown over the years to become one of the most anticipated social and sporting events, is a demonstration of the bank’s strong belief in the role of sports in developing and uniting the society.”
