2019 Lagos Int. Polo Tournament: Abuja Almat Wins Majekodunmi Cup, Italian Ambassador Cup on first Attempt *Centaurs, STL, Sublime, Aplus, NRT Emerge Champions

 An unforgettable epoch that changed the folklores. That aptly described the just concluded 2019 Lagos international polo tournament that crowns new champions.

No team can strolled into Lagos polo tourney and win the event’s biggest title on first attempt for decades, but Abuja Almat team has shattered that myth, winning the highly revered Majekodunmi Cup on first attempt.

The prestigious polo carnival that pitch over 34 polo teams and top Nigerian and foreign players  left in its glowing trail many memorable highpoints  both on and off the pitch. One such glittering highlight was the curtain drawing final game that decided the winners of the event’s biggest prize and Nigeria’s oldest polo trophy, the Independence Cup.

The tense final game that was decided before loaded galleries of the foremost Ikoyi polo club saw Bode Makanjuela’s Centaurs taking an early lead with two quick goals through Diego White and held on till the third chukka, when Maurice Ekpenyong’s Almat responded with two goals.

Almat fought back gallantly to draws level 6-6 in the fifth chukka, but their rally came rather late as Centaurs enjoying huge added two more goals in the dying minutes of the last chukka, stunning their Abuja opponents 8-6 final scores to cart home the Independence Cup.

The Low Cup final that preceded the final game, also produced a new winner as Bello Buba pivoted Sublime team out gun Aplus RCF 51/2-5 in a closely fought final game to win, to win Low Cup, while Kano Ibah got the better of Lagos Agad team to clinch the subsidiary prize.

But the finest moments of the finale stage of the international polo grand slam that was inaugurated in 1904, belong to Abuja Almat  whose stunning performance fetch them the Majekodunmi Cup after winning their opening  game 11-8 against Lagos STL, to clinch the glittering Italian Ambassador’s Cup

Seyi Tinubu’s STL who were also pushing to win the Majek Cup title on first  attempt finished  runners-up,  in a promising campaign that stands them out as one of the best performing teams in the 2019 Lagos tournament that include APlus Renmoney, Carverton / Saopolo and Lagos NRT.

“This is awesome. This is the one event as a Nigerian you want to win. “There's a lot of history about the prize (Majekodunmi Cup) and a lot of great winners on the trophy and I'm very glad to be able to put my name on the trophy as well.” Ekpenyong recalled the historic victory.

“ We knew we had to stay patient and take the chances when they came.  “It's a very special.” Maurice added: “We’ve played brilliantly all year and we are already looking forward to the remaining part of the season with optimism.”

“They just left everybody standing even before the final games of the round-robin format competition. I congratulate their resolve and determination that fetched them such a sensational victory,” screams the commentator, who has won the Majek  Cup a number of  times.