Top polo players out to show their class after good outing last season

Kimoi Moi of Mascor in action against Crown Paints during The Ndume Christmas Polo tournament at Manyatta polo club Gilgil on December 9,2023.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard] With almost all ponies taking a rest after completion of last season's events, eight players rank among those who could make or shape Kenya's resurgence in international assignments besides the national duties this year. And the eight who have been instrumental for the past two seasons resulting in competitiveness of matches and making them more interesting in national and international championships are likely to replicate the same form this year! All of them had their presence felt while representing Kenya here and abroad. They include the evergreen duo of Nzomo brothers in Jadini and Amani, Africa's top female player Izzy Voorspuy, Kenya's top male player Casimir Gross, speedy and defensive kingpin Kimoi Moi, versatile Hiromi Nzomo, Will Millar and matchmaker Craig Millar. All of them have been a joy to watch. And it will not be any different this year for the octet as was in the previous two seasons. Some of them failed to feature in a number of competitions last season owing to Africa horse sickness, which restricted movement of ponies from one venue to the other. Kenya has four polo courses in the country with Nairobi Polo Club being the largest, boosting two pitches. Others are Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, Northern Polo Club in Kisima, Timau and Timau Sports Club. Although selection and composition of national teams vary from one time to the other by national selectors, consistency and excellent performance in players' workouts and in matches determine their automatic qualification into different national teams in the chase for top honours. For example, Jadini and Amani are no doubt Kenya's top youthful players at the moment whose speed and riding skills could be equaled to that of the experienced and handicap 5 Casimir Gross of Northern Kenya Polo Club in Timau. Jadini was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the first chapter of Kenya International Championships last September at a tournament that saw foreign players from different nationalities featuring in it. "It was a good show for me to have emerged victorious and winning a coveted title in this prestigious competition was exemplary," Jadini told Standard Sports by then. Nairobi Polo Club vice chairman Simon Muchene said they have not decided on which teams to invite for the prestigious competition since they still have more time to make a number of invitations before receiving confirmations. "Unfortunately, we are unable to know who'll play us then since we still have more time to make the invitations. We have not yet selected the teams," he said despite the event being a Kenya Polo Association tournament. Muchene confirmed participation of a number of Nigerian teams in some of the club's activities this month (January 2025) starting with the Davis Cup (January 11-12), Maria Bencivenga (January 18-19), Soldiers Salute (January 25-25) and the Chairman's Cup (January 31 to February 2). Lagos Ladies will take part in the Maria Bencivenga Championships with Abuja Polo Club coming for the Chairman's Cup. "These are the only confirmed cases that'll see Nigerians coming for reciprocal competitions just like we did last year," said Muchene who's an accomplished rider. Hiromi featured in matches that involved Nigerian ladies with her teammates being Magda Jurkowiecka, Michele Morgan and Eva Kamau but lost. Casimir wasn't a prominent figure last season but the Northern Kenyan farmer is scheduled to make a comeback this season, same to Voorspuy. And having emerged as the MVP in a number of matches and tournaments last year, Jadini is expected to play the same role in several international matches that involves the junior and senior teams this year. Kenya is expected to play Zimbabwe in Harare in June with the Zambian ladies expected in Kenya almost the same time in a match to be played at Northern Kenya Polo Club in Timau according to former Kenya Polo Association (KPA) chairman Gordon Millar, a member of Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil. "These are assured events and we look forward for our young and experienced players taking part in them in our international calendar of events," said Millar. And the Kenyan men's side will also play Zambia at Manyatta Polo Club in July. These are some of the matches the octet and other riders are expected to exhibit their talents and skills if their current form is anything to go by. And Millar stated that they'll host an Under 15 International championships of the school going children at the same venue (Manyatta Polo Club) in the second quarter of the season. "It's a way to nurture talents as we expose them (the young riders) to other established players in the continent," said the former KPA boss. Otherwise, the KPA events are scheduled to commence in May.

Top polo players out to show their class after good outing last season

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