Little-known Mike Mwirigi reveals his secret trick in polo

He uses home grown ponies but still performs beyond expectations in national and international championships against experienced players.

The well-endowed riders have always been using imported ponies from South Africa and Argentina, the world powers of this game.

Most of his ponies are locally bred save for two he also imported from South Africa.

And with the mixed grill of ponies, the upcoming Mike Mwirigi has managed to grow his handicap from negative digits to the current 0.5 within the seven years he’s traversed polo pitches around the country.

As a result, he has grown to become a refined player over time.

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And in his stable with more than seven horses, he is fond of the 15-year-old Lalula, which he has uses most of the time to destroy his opponents.

“Whenever I use this pony, I feel like as if I’m riding on a Mercedes Benz. That’s my German machine. As people are used to German machines, I’m equally used to Lalula,” he observed.

And by using the homegrown horses, Mwirigi said they have as well-given him some good and terrifying moments in polo pitches across the country.

“In using the homegrown horses all along with a mixture of two imported from South Africa, they have polished my skills as I win and lose matches for the last seven ears,” he told The Nairobian Sports.

The Northern Kenya Polo Club rider has effectively competed against some experienced and inexperienced players in equal measure whom he beat their teams or was beaten in the chase for top honours.

“When competing, chances are that you can win or lose matches but the ultimate goal in polo is to have fun as you face-off against different players across the world,” said the soft spoken rider who’s determined to reach the higher echoleans of the game.

And as he gets ready for this season’s events that commence in May, Mwirigi has been taking part in off-season competitions hosted at Nairobi Polo Club from last month.

He said they are meant to shape-him-up against the city’s experienced riders that has the likes of the Nzomo siblings of Amani, Hiromi and Jadini as he tries to improve on his game.

“However, improving on my handicap is not a major priority as for now. Improving my handicap will automatically come with good play. Player confidence is what matters although the season is three months away,” he added.

This weekend, Mwirigi is scheduled to feature in the Chairman’s Cup at the Nairobi Polo Club after it was postponed last weekend owing to heavy rains.

Mwirigi is categorical in his ambition this year as his mission is to give opponents a run for their money in each game he plays.

“Despite missing out in some competitions last season, I’m ready for the duel this time around and as the main reason I’m taking part in off-season competitions this time,” he said.

He also featured in the Soldier’s Salute’s Championships that was hosted at the same venue last month, which was partly rained-off.

The Kenya Polo Association (KPA) season kicks-off in May with a number of key local matches, which will culminate in several international championships between June and September spread across the four polo pitches in the country.

Asked on the players who inspired him in his career, Mwirigi is full of praise for Kenyan top rider, the handicap 5 Casimir Gross and the polished Jamie Murray who are all members of Northern Kenya Polo Club where they mostly practice and play their matches.

“Practicing and playing against top players is the best thing if one is to emerge tops in polo. And that’s my greatest aim when I get to the pitch,” he stated.

On memorable moments, Mwirigi remembers only two instances when all went into his favour from the first to the last match. That’s in October 2018 and in January 2023.

On October 2018, is when he registered his first victory as a player at the age of 28 years after getting into the game of polo.

And on January 2023, is when his team won the Chairman’s Cup at Nairobi Polo Club.

“All these victories have immensely contributed into the growth of my career. And they are very memorable to me in my career, which I’ll never forget as a player when I played my heart out in both occasions to emerge victorious,” he said.

And on those wishing to join polo, Mwirigi has only one word for them saying; “You