Zambians ready to battle Kenyans in friendly match

Kimoi Moi of Mambo Wholesalers (left) battles with Jadini Nzomo of Kenagro during the Bell inn and Swonbourne cup at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil on July 19, 2019. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

The Zambian national polo team has warned their Kenyan hosts that they should be prepared for a tough duel when they meet today in an international friendly match.

The visitors had a chance of riding the Kenyan horses for the second day in the Bell Inn/Swinbourne Cups Championships at Manyatta Polo Club, in Gilgil, yesterday.

Handicap 4 Zambian all-rounder Megan Viljeon said they have mastered the Kenyan horses and are now ready for today's match.

"Kenyan horses are marvellous compared to the Lusaka horses. We have gelled well and are now confident of overcoming the hosts while using their horses," Viljeon told Standard Sports after her team Axial defeated Amistra Xtra 5-4 in the playoffs of the four-team knockout series of the ladies championships.

Cherokee defeated Engel 7-6 to win the ladies' final after the two eliminated Amistra Xtra 7-3.5 and Axial 8.5-5 in their respective preliminary matches on the first day of the three-day championships.

18-year-old handicap 3, the long-hitting Zambian attacker Nunu Henderson lauded two Kenyan players; handicap 7 Izzy Parsons and Aisha Gross for their prowess.

She termed Parsons as a utility attacker whose speed, agility and swiftness can hardly be matched on a good day.

Kenya Polo Association was last evening vetting names of four out 15 players who will make the Kenya Ladies side that will take on Zambia today afternoon in the Kenya International Polo Championships.

Despite high handicapped players standing between her and a slot to the national team, handicap 3 Australia trained Hiromi Nzomo hopes to be given the nod.

"Although there are several high handicap players ahead of me in the selection trials, I'll be glad to be picked into the team for such an important match," Nzomo told Standard Sports.

In yesterday's matches, Morendat's team of Amani Nzomo (-0.5), Toby Grammaticas (-0.5), Louis Du Toit (-0.5) and Kaila Millar (0), defeated Mayers 6-5 in the three-team round-robin matches of the Division B Championships.

In the Division A championships, handicap 2.5 Raphael Nzomo led the handicap 4.5 Kenagro team of Gordon Murray (1.5), Omwakwe Arunga(1) and Jadini Nzomo(-0.5) to a 7.5-6 victory over Barclays.

In the final match, Mambo Wholesalers team of Kimoi Moi (2), Lorenzo Soriano (1), Ben Stonewigg (1) and Louis Roumeguere (0) lost 4-5 to Syngenta team that had Julian Camm (2.5), Joss Craig (1.5), Tom Stonewigg (0.5) and Cloe Warren (0).

There will be four curtain-raiser matches today of the Bell Inn/Swinbourne Cups Championships ahead of Kenya versus Zambia match at 1:30 pm.

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