Leighton wins Access Bank Polo Charity Shield

The final stage of the 2017 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament came to a flourishing climax late Sunday at the Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Resort in Kaduna with Leighton Kings from Lagos winning the prestigious Charity Shield, just as Saopolo team outpaced a crowded field to clinch the Access Bank Cup.

Mounted by Bowale Jolaso the Leighton Kings, who edged Tavia Good fellows in their opening game, outpaced Keffi Ponys 10-7 in an explosive final match, to the win their first Charity Shield title.

Team Leighton (Bowale Jolaso, Babangida Hassan, Santiago Cernadas and Martin Jaurequi) jumped into the lead from the starting bell and maintain the lead till the end, despite spirited efforts by Keffi Ponys ( Aliyu Wadada, Belo Buba, Leroux Hendricks and Ale Patterson to draw level.

“This is unbelievable. As debutants nobody gave us a chance, but by cheer determination and the overwhelming support of our fans, we make it to the final and produced a stunning performance that over haul the former champions and secured us the glittering Access Bank Cup,” declared Leighton Kings captain, Jolaso.

The Charity Cup final decided before a packed Fifth Chukker polo ground was preceded by the Access Bank Cup final game where hot favourites, Saopolo team outclassed Kano Susplan 6-1 in win the event’s second most wanted Bank Cup.

Earlier on Saturday, Keffi Ponys had upset Rubicon 7-4 to earn their first ever Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, just as STL-Titans and Tavia rounded up their 2017 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Cp campaign on high, winning the UNICEF Cup and Wapic Cup respectively.

One the major highlights of the 207 edition of the biggest charity polo in Africa that has been geared specifically toward educational the well-being title, Access of orphans and vulnerable children in Kaduna State for the past ten years, was the donation of Ten Million Naira by The Chief Executive Officer of Bank Plc., Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe

“We have been working in Kaduna, in collaboration with UNICEF to elevate quality of lives. We need to do a lot more in support of these orphans and vulnerable children to enable them look forward to a better tomorrow,” declares Access Bank boss who made the donation to UNICEF.