Leighton Kings Record Polo Win
Leighton Kings showed why they are one of the most revered sides in African polo when they beat Art Hotel Shoreline to retain the most coveted Majekodunmi Cup at the ongoing Lagos International Polo Tournament at Polo Club, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi.
The win made them the most successful team at the month-long 2024 GTCO Lagos International Polo Fiesta featuring some of the biggest players from across the world.
The Eko polo kings defeated hard-fighting Art Hotel Shoreline 10-9 in a gusty final with the winning goal coming off a penalty in the last second of the explosive six-chukka encounter. The Bowale Jolaoso-powered kings also added the Independence Cup to their trophy cabinet, increasing their title haul this year to two.
“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t describe the first time we won so I don’t know how to put this one into words,” Leighton Kings patron, Jolaoso, said shortly after the tense final match. “It could have gone either way after they (Art Hotel Shoreline) drew level late in the last chukka, but our winning edge tilted it in our favour,” he added.
Art Hotel Shoreline, who finished runners-up in the Majekodunmi Cup and the Independence Cup respectively, had earlier in the week dispatched the visiting Abuja Rubicon team to lift the glittering Italian Ambassador’s Cup.
The feat earned them the second-best performing Lagos-based high-goal team of the 120th edition of the international polo festival .
Other big winners in the second week of the fiesta include Sheyi Onyinola, who led the trio of Mayowa Ogunnisi, Lalu Agoro, Timi Badiru and Baba Dantata in Team Lagos 1974 colours to brush past Team Lagos 2010, to clinch the coveted Governor’s Cup,
Team Lagos 1904 boasting youngsters like Tayo Ojora, Adebayo Karim, Osaro Omoruyi and Mohammed Dangote were the other top flyers of the second week, sailing past their Team Lagos 1962 opponents to win the Lagos Heritage Cup, which was played to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the State of Aquatic Splendor.
For another year running, the prestigious festival hosted a renowned and faithful collection of sponsors with GTCO leading others like Arbico, Vueve Clicquot, ChapelHill Denem, BUA, Metro Capital, MTN, among others.
The fourth and final week of the yearly event will see a crowd of equally matched low-goal teams slugging it out for the Silver Cup from February 13 to 18, 2024
Guardian/Esther Effiong, Abuja
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