HH President of the UAE Polo Cup

HH President of the UAE Polo Cup

Ghantoot Polo Team reversed their fortunes against previously unbeaten opponents, ADCB when they retained the HH President of the UAE Polo Cup on 31st March.

The tense clash, punctuated by the high number of penalties awarded against both sides, finished 4-3. ADCB had beaten Ghantoot 7-6 when the sides met in their qualifying match. Ghantoot were able to turn the tables yesterday, but not before ADCB staged a spirited comeback from 4-1 down in the fourth and fifth chukkers.

Ghantoot opened the scoring when Gonzalo Azumendi, who accounted for three of his side’s four goals, notched his first around half way through the first of five chukkers. ADCB’s Hugo Barabucci almost claimed one back for his side but his shot went wide. Barabucci’s teammate, Nasser al Dhari, went on a great, angled run in front of goal but also shot just wide of the left-hand post.

The second chukker was a stop, start affair, featuring a large number of penalties awarded against a frustrated ADCB team. Nasser al Shamsi doubled Ghantoot’s score with a goal in open play and Azumendi scored a penalty awarded against Barabucci to draw three goals clear. Barabucci, not to be outdone, emerged victorious from a melee in front of goal to score ADCB’s first of the game.

On the third restart, Nasser al Shamsi, Ghantoot’s polo captain demonstrated a masterclass in close ball control, dribbling the ball from the boards to the centre of the pitch in an excellent attacking play. His efforts were thwarted illegally by ADCB and Azumendi buried the resulting penalty for 4-1. Though they came close, Ghantoot did not score again, while ADCB found a new lease of life in the fourth chukker. The match finally took on the end-to-end action that the 3,200 spectators had been hoping for with Barabucci and Matias Colombres combining in some of ADCB’s trade-mark aggressive play. It was Colombres who claimed ADCB’s final two goals, the first in open play and the second in a penalty in the fifth chukker. But Ghantoot had done enough to retain their crown.

“That was one of the most satisfying victories I have ever had the good fortune to be a part of,” said al Shamsi. “Before the game we knew we had to keep our defenses as tight as possible and play forward-going and aggressive polo and we kept to our script. We were disappointed to lose to ADCB in the qualifying match and we always knew that they would be a tough team, capable of staging a comeback. I’m just delighted that we have emerged the victors in a very tough, physical game.”

Barabucci was unhorsed in the second chukker, but fortunately the seven-goaler was unhurt.

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the tournament started on March 20 when five teams competed for a spot in yesterday’s final. For the first time the tournament at the Royal Abu Dhabi Club fatured a team from Dubai Polo team. Consisting of talented young Emirati players, Habtoor al Habtoor and Rashid bin Drai, the side was one of two other outfits including Al Basti Polo team and Tom Ford Polo team.

HE Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club’s vice chairman said he was very pleased with the skilled polo on offer as well as the turn-out of spectators. “This is our most prestigious tournament of the season and it is very gratifying to see so many people here to support our club. We have showcased a high standard of polo and we hope that this success may inspire an increased interest in polo in this country. We now look forward to the 2012 renewal of the HH President of the UAE Polo Cup.”

The event was presented by ADCB and lead sponsored by Al Basti and Tom Ford.

Martin Scott, Chief Marketing Officer, ADCB said: “ADCB is proud to be associated with the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club for the HH President of the UAE Polo Cup. We are especially proud of the determined ambition of the ADCB Polo Team who have demonstrated a brilliant tribute to the graceful game of Polo. Today, the public got to witness international and professional polo at its best. As part of our corporate social responsibility, ADCB continues its efforts to endeavour to serve community through supporting sports and social events.”