A touch of luxury at Polo

The Inanda Polo Academy made full use of their home ground advantage, winning the Inanda Africa Cup against Team Green Machines, supported by Joburg’s glitterati.
TEN teams went head-to-head on horseback in their quest for glory at the 2011 Inanda Africa Cup polo tournament which ran from 29 to 31 July, with Joburg’s glitterati turning out in full force on the competition’s final day to egg them on.

Spectators enjoy a game of poloSpectators enjoy a game of polo“This year’s event [was] another spectacular affair that showcased the prowess and skills of some of the best horsemen on the continent,” said the club’s general manager, Paul Oosthuizen.

The Inanda Africa Cup 2011 is sponsored by the Johannesburg Tourism Company, Veuve Cliquot, Peroni, South African Tourism, Reinsurance Solutions, Creative Food Concepts and Roberto Cavalli.

Teams competing this year were African Polistas, Linetrale, Inanda Polo Academy, Rutland Ridge, Team Green Machines, Veuve Cliquot Champs, Inanda Renegades, Envirobiz, Los Potros and Polo Africa, a development side. Players from Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt were among them.

High-speed thrills ensured only the top teams moved through the ranks and qualified as finalists. The Inanda Polo Academy flew the flag high for the tournament’s hosts, the Inanda Club in Sandton, as the players tussled with Team Green Machines in the ultimate showdown – and emerged victorious.

In a nail-biting 45-minute match, each team vied for spot as top dog, or in this case, top horse. Team Green Machines took an early lead and dominated the first two chukkas 4 – 2.

A chukka is a period of play, with the norm in a tournament being six chukkas per match. There are seven-and-a-half minutes in each chukka, with breaks of three minutes between chukkas and a five-minute half-time break.

Inanda Polo Academy hit back in the third chukka, though, and soon sailed into the lead at 6 – 4. The team held on to this lead mercilessly, extending it to 9 – 4 in the second half, but the Green Machines were not ready to bow out yet and fought back to a respectable 9 – 6 going into the last chukka.

Inanda hung on to their home ground advantage and extended their lead to 10– 6, which they defended unrelentingly until the final whistle.

Spectators
Amid the hammering of horses’ hooves and the crack of ball on mallet was a tinkle of laughter and chatter, as the city’s socialites and fashionistas came out to enjoy a day of sporting fun.

Inanda pipped Green for top spotInanda Polo Academy pipped Team Green Machines for top spot“While the polo players show[ed] off their skills on horseback, Gauteng’s social, executive and equestrian circuit meandered through the luxury lane section,” Oosthuizen said.

Luxury lane comprised oysters, sushi, champagne, international coffees and massages to give the event a touch of extravagance and indulge the more expensive tastes.

This was not all that was on offer; there was entertainment for all ages. Pony rides and a jumping castle were available for the younger set, while a groom’s race accompanied a test of “man vs machine” to keep people’s engines revving when a thoroughbred pony raced against a Jaguar XKR 5.0.

Action both on and off the field kept the crowds captivated throughout the day, and the participation of a development side gave the tournament a special touch.

“The strong focus on developing players over the past five years has changed the face of polo from that of an elitist sport to that of a sport for the people,” he said. “Already there are a number of incredibly talented development players, including Sbu Duma, Meshake Tshidiso and Tisetso Makenethe to name a few, who are making headlines and becoming heroes in the polo world.”

Duma was out in full force for the African Polistas team and displayed his talent with a mallet, even though his team did not make the finals.