The opening week of the 120th NPA/GTCO Lagos International Polo Tournament came to a befitting climax with Lagos Trojan Ark, STL and Kaduna Sublime Dangote teams sharing the top prizes.
Trojan Ark were the biggest winners clinching the Chapelhill Dandem Open Cup by defeating Lagos STL 9-8 in a closely fought four chukkas final, while STL emerged the proud champions in the race for the Oba of Lagos Cup.
Dapo Ojora Memorial Cup went to the visiting Kaduna Sublime/ Dangote team and scored a golden goal to defeat Open Cup record holder, Lagos Leighton sending a strong signal to the home teams at the polo festival.
The 2024 NPA/ GTCO international that galloped off in grand style last week moves to higher gears this week with four teams — namely title holders Leighton Kings, Lagos Shoreline/Art team, Open Cup winners Trojan/Ark and the ambitious Abuja Rubicon — jostling for the event’s biggest prize, the Majekodunmi Cup.
Tournament Manager, Mayowa Ogunnusi, confirmed that defending champions Leighton Kings and visiting Abuja Rub, who are seeking their first Lagos major title in years, are billed to clash in the opening game of the Majekodunmi Cup series. Three subsidiary prizes — the Governor/ Heritage Cup, the Independence Cup and the Italian Ambassador’s Cup — are also on offer in this second week that would climax on Sunday.
For another year running, the prestigious festival hosted a collection of sponsors with GTCO leading others like Arbico, Vueve Clicquot, ChapelHill Denem, BUA, Metro Capital, MTN, among others.
The third week will see teams vying for the Low Cup from February 6 to 11, while the grand finale of the annual fiesta that is steeped in tradition and elegance, will see a crowd of equally matched low-goal teams slugging it out for the Silver Cup between February 13 and 18.
