2017 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament: Lagos Ribadu Clinch Italian  Ambassador’s Cup

…Kano Agad, Eat N’Go battle for Low Cup 

final spot

Lagos Ribadu emerged winners of the Italian Ambassador’s Cup by beating Lagos Awolowo 6-4 in the 2017 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament which will end on Sunday.

Lagos Petrosmith also defeated Lagos Lintex 5 1/2 – 4 and Kano Agad were also victorious on Friday as they triumphed 10 1/2 – 2 over Ibadan Oluyole.

For the Italian Ambassador’s Cup, sponsored by Elper Oilfield Engineering Nigeria Limited, Six-goaler, Santiago Cernadas and Ossama ‘Disco Baby’ Debs (0), got Ribadu to a flying start. Tom De Bruin pecked the lead to just a goal. Senator Toks Ogunbanjo (+1) scored to give Ribadu who are completed by Leroux Hendriks (+5), a 3-1 lead to end the first chukka.

De Bruin got another goal at the start of the second chukka to keep Awolowo, who also have Sani Dangote (+1) Bayo Amusan (+1) and Halifa Ibrahim (+3), in the game as the latter drew them level before the end of the second chukka. 

Argentine Cernadas scored all three goals in the third chukka to give Ribadu a 6-3 lead and despite Ibrahim’s goal for Awolowo, the display of Cernadas was enough to see Ribadu bag a two-goal margin victory in a match watched by the Consul-General Italian Embassy, Andrea Pompermaire.

In the second match of the day, three-goaler, Hamisu Buba opened score with a low shot to give Petrosmith 1 1/2 – 0 lead against Lintex. He converted a 30-yarder moment later but Nasiru Lukat (+1) scored a 30-yarder to narrow the deficit for Lintex.

Buba influenced the match and kept his team in the lead 5 1/2 – 4 at the end of the third chukka. There was no goal scored in the final chukka as both sides missed series of chances.

In the day’s opening tie, Kano Agad defeated Ibadan Oluyole with the game galloping-off on a comical note as Salisu Ibrahim putting his shot wide despite being the only one on the field. 

Ibrahim had kicked off the match being the only player ready as others are still dressing up but after moving freely with the ball for over 120 yards, his shot drifted to the side of the goal.

Agad, who featured Nabil Dantata (0), Sadiq Dantata (+1), Idris Badamasi (+2) and Abdulmalik Badamasi (+2), made Oluyole paid for that inexplicable miss as they lead 3 1/2 – 0 at the end of the opening chukka.Oluyole, completed by Bola Adeyemi (+1), Jibrin Ali (+1), and Babao Lawan (+2), were made to chase the game all through as Agad surged to a 8 1/2 – 2 lead going to the last chukka before seeing out the match 10 1/2 – 2.

The semifinals of the Low Cup holds today as Lagos Eat N’ Go confront Kano Agad while Lagos Balmoral International clash with Lagos United. The day’s activities would be rounded off with an award night.