Saopolo gallops into Access Bank Polo second round
Lagos Saopolo team has become the first team, to qualify for the second round of the crowded Access Bank Cup in the ongoing 2017 UNICEF Charity Shield polo in Kaduna.
Team Saopolo comprise of Seyi Oyinola, Martin Jaurequi, Fernando Munoz and Yasin Amusan defeated Dattaku 6-2 1/2 to advance to the crucial round of the event’s second most wanted title that attracted a loaded field of 12 teams.
Saopolo, who had earlier beaten Amana Insurance team 6-1 in their opening game on Tuesday, jumped in front with three goals from Martin and Fernando in the first chukka and maintained the lead till the final whistle of the exciting game.
Team Dattaku composed of Khalil Halilu, Ahmed Aminu, Danjuma Abdullahi and Asharaf Yahaya, who had stormed back from two goals to defeat Newsline 5 1/2 - 4 in their opening match on Tuesday, were completely overwhelmed as the Lagos side gave them very little space.
The second game of the third day of the international charity polo event saw Bello Buba pivoting YBL-DY Farms to a 641/2 victory against Kano Dantex in the last group game. Both YBL-DY Farms and Dantex, who had earlier lost their opening games to STL-Titan and Sublime respectively, are out of the race for the Access Bank Cup title.
Debutant Port Harcourt RISSA who had earlier on Tuesday held Kano Susplan to a 5-5 score draw in their opening game are also on their way out after losing 3 1/2-3 to Newsline in their second match.
Revered as the biggest polo tournament in the continent, the weeklong Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament is set to pick up steam as six more games are lined up in the group stage of the Access Bank Cup series and the high stake Charity Shield Cup race that gallops off today.