The Nairobi Polo Club will this weekend host the Zambia Men’s Nine Goal Polo Tournament.
The two-day tournament will also mark the return of high-stakes polo action to Nairobi after a month-long hiatus.
The tournament promises to shine a spotlight on some of the most exceptional polo talent in the region. This will be a nine-goal tournament — where the total handicap of each team (the sum of the handicaps of its individual players) cannot exceed nine goals.
This high handicap limit ensures a balanced tournament in terms of skill and experience, making the matches competitive and exciting. The tournament will see the Zambian Men's Team players mix with some of Kenya's top polo players in the preliminary rounds, such as the five-goal rated Casimir Gross and team Kenya captain, Vishal Somaia, who plays off a two-goal handicap. On Sunday, the main event, Kenya will face off against Zambia.
The Nairobi Polo Club received a substantial financial boost at the start of the 2023/24 season with SBM Bank Kenya's sponsorship commitment of Sh3m. This partnership underscores the bank's unwavering dedication to supporting sports and cultural events that foster community unity and champion excellence.
The arrival of the Zambia Men’s Team comes off the back of their Ladies’ team, which provided a riveting high-scoring clash between an experienced Zambian team, led by Sally Jellis and a young, formidable Kenyan team.
The Kenyan team emerged victorious with an impressive 11-8 scoreline. This gripping battle for supremacy led to the Kenyan team securing the prestigious Swinburn Trophy, a symbol of their exceptional skill and teamwork.
