Kenyans prove too good for Nigeria

Nigerians and other West African teams are known for their football prowess in Africa having dominated it (African football) for a long time but they could not do it in polo!

It’s an area where a lot of factors come into focus to determine the best teams in the continent with the deciding factor being ownership of the best and well-trained-athletic horses.

The best trained polo playing ponies originate from Argentina, England and South Africa.

Training of polo ponies takes up-to three years for it to qualify in playing matches across the globe in a polo pitch that is nine times bigger than a football field.

Most of the Kenyan polo players have imported their horses from South Africa with a few cases from Argentina and England.

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The Nigerians could not do it when Abuja Polo Club were hosted at Nairobi Polo Club (NPC) in a reciprocal return match in the city last weekend where the homeboys won.

NPC defeated Abuja Polo Club (APC) 5-4.5 and wondered how they (Nigerians) were beaten in Nairobi.

NPC team of Vishal Somaia, Mbu Ngugi, Raphael Nzomo and Fredd Kambo came from two and a half goals down in the first two chukkas to dismiss APC 5-4.5 in a fast and entertaining match.

Two Kenyan players were instrumental in guaranteeing NPC the victory in a hard-fought win.

“They (Kenyans) were familiar to and on their own horses just the same way we do it back at home (Abuja). Therefore, we lost on that account despite our prowess in the game,” said the marauding handicap 3 Nigerian captain Lado Aliyu.

The never-say-die but experienced Raphael Nzomo scored three competitive goals in addition to two penalties by Somaia (Vishal) from assists by Ngugi (Mbu) and Kambo (Fredd) to win the match.

“It was a tough match but I hope you saw what I did during the match. Three competitive goals by me made all the difference after Vishal had sunk in two penalties. Kudos to all my teammates,” Nzomo told Nairobian Sports when questioning if this reporter was keen on his performance and achievement on the pitch.

Aliyu scored all the four Nigerian goals after his team started the match at the advantage of half fraction of a goal from their low handicap.

When the Kenyans visited Abuja Polo Club in April last year, they were equally beaten by the Nigerians.

Thinking that it was going to be as easy as it were in Abuja, the Nigerian team captain Lado Aliyu admitted they lost to a better side.

“Yes, we lost to a better side who dominated us in the game but we equally gave them a run for their money,” he said.

Other Nigerian team members were Ahmed Sodangi (2), Colonel Yusuf Bello (1) and Mohammed Buhari (-2).

While riding the pony christened Machito, Aliyu emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the pony he rode on voted as the Best Playing Pony (BPP).

“Wow this pony (Machito) is too good and I wish it could belong to me so that I could fly with it back to Abuja,” Aliyu revealed his deep love for a pony he cherished riding the whole of last weekend.

Machito is owned by former Nairobi Polo Club chairman Phillip Arunga who poured glowing tribute to the pony.

And International Raphael Nzomo and Simon Muchene came out as outstanding players after leading their respective teams to victories in different categories of the Chairman’s Cup.

Nzomo scored three crucial goals that ensured Nairobi Polo Club sank their Abuja counterparts 5-4.5 to win the Chairman’s Cup.

“Although it was tough, I did my best throughout the match to ensure we emerged victorious against the fancied West Africans. They got a taste of my play,” said Nzomo.

On his part, Muchene (Simon) captained Air Asia to win the Chairman’s Subsidiary Cup outwitting Hustle Sasa and Afrisend in the chase for top honours.

“It was a good honour to have taken part in such high profile matches that incorporated experienced Nigerian players but we emerged victorious in our won rights,” said Muchene, the Nairobi Polo Club vice chairman.

Other members of Air Asia team included Magda Jurkowiechka, Vincent De Brauwer and Alice Owambo.

Owambo said it’s a good victory but we gave a good account of ourselves”.

The handicap 0.5 Mike Mwirigi who played for Hustle Sasa but failed to emerge victorious said: “We live to fight for another day, harder and better!”.