Lagos Polo’2017: Atta’s Fifth Chukker Extends Dominance *Retains Majek Cup, Independence Cup Titles *Kano Agad Clinch Low Cup, Governor’s Cup

Enhanced playing program, greater preparation time and a renewed sense of self-belief  by Nigeria polo supremo, Adamu Atta was on display as Fifth Chukker gave Lagos Centaurs a thumping 15-5 defeat to stretch their  global standing and Majekodunmi Cup titles haul to a new height.

After eleven breathtaking days of international polo actions in Ikoyi, the polo world will surely now be reliving the magic and the legacies thrown forth by the just concluded 2017 Lagos polo tournament.

Some of those enduring highlights include the near clean sweep by Lagos Teams, winning three out of the four major titles at stake, losing just one to Kano Agad.  Agad defeated Lagos Balmoral 61/2- 4 in the Low Cup final clash to win their first ever major polo title in Lagos.

Team Agad (Nabil Dantata, Sadiq Dantata, Idris Badamasi and Malik Badamasi) who were pundits’ outsiders shocked their more experienced rivals, Lagos Balmoral (Baba Dangote, Isa Kwame and Luqman Adebayo and Kabiru Seidu) in the tense Low Cup final, giving the long travelling Kano polo enthusiasts plenty to celebrate for.

By far the biggest show of the tournament belong to Atta and his 5th Chukkers who carted home  the event’s biggest prize and consolidate their status as the kings of Lagos polo, having won the international tourney more than any other team in the last decade.

The final decided before a full crowd that include Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki, billionaire business mogul Aliko Dangote,  among other dignitaries, saw Fifth Chukker (Adamu Atta, Babangida Hassan, Manuel Crespo and Santiago Cernadas) firmly in charge from first chukka to the final sixth, adding the Italian Ambassador Cup for good measures.

Lagos Centaurs boosting ( Bode Makanjuela, Bashir Dantata (Jnr.) Leroux Hendriks and Tom De Bruin) has hope to re-enact their opening game form where they held Fifth Chukkers to a 13-14 standoff, but Ata and his big Boys were just too hot to handle.

I can't hide my joy. I feel proud of our team spirit and determination. It was a great moment for us to be able outpaced the highly motivated Centaurs who were bent on snatching the title at the slightest opportunity,” Atta pointed out.

The crowded first phase of the tourney that pitted teams from Kano, Ibadan and a battery of Lagos teams thrilled for six days intense contests and at the end, it was Bowale Jolaosho’s Leighton Kings and Sheyi Tinubu/ Lolu Ogoro’s STL 57 that ensured Lagos was on top, wining the Open Cup and the Silver Cup respectively.

Leighton Kings (Hassan Fayad, Bowale Jolaosho, Santiago Cernadas and Martin Juaregi) defeated the hard fighting Lagos A-Plus 10 - 6 1/2 to win the Open Cup, while STL 57 dispatched a determined Ibadan Jericho side al to clinch their first Silver Cup title in the GTB sponsored 2017 Lagos International Polo Tournament.

The Lagos international fiesta which climax with fanfare was loaded with plenty of off the field entertainments. Various DJs entertained guests on daily basis, there was a fashion show and top Nigerian artists like Olamide ensure that the international polo extravaganza was truly grand.

The tournament is co-sponsored by Bell Oil & Gas, Veuve Clicquot, Wapic Insurance, Old Mutual, Chapel Hill Denham, Metro Capital, Arbico, and the Majekodunmi Family among others.