Sheikha Maitha-led UAE team make winning start at Polo Masters Cup

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Close on the heels of the success of the IFZA Silver Cup, the action continued at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club as the second trophy — Polo Masters Cup — of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series kicked off with four matches.

IFZA Silver Cup, the first tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, ended on Friday, with Habtoor Polo team winning the title.

Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum-led UAE Polo defeated Bin Drai Polo 8-6 in a thrilling contest on the opening day of the Polo Masters Cup.

The scores were at a tie during the first chukker with Mohammed Bin Drai scoring two goals matched by Sheikha Maitha and Benjamin Panelo for UAE Polo. In the second chukker, UAE Polo created a two-point lead with an early goal from Rashid Al Abbar.

The team kept the lead through the penultimate chukker with Sheikha Maitha putting two more through the posts. Bin Drai responded immediately with Gregorio Gelosi scoring twice, but could not make up the margin as the game ended at 8 goals to 6 in favour of the UAE Polo.

In another match, AM Polo thrashed Ankora Polo 9-5. The scores were close during the first-half with AM Polo leading the game with notable goal contributions from Ricardo Garros Jr and Pali Urquiza.

AM Polo took off during the third chukker as they carved a three-goal advantage succeeded by three goals from Urquiza during the last chukker that sealed the win for his team.

Completing an action-packed afternoon was a game between La Berta Polo and Alem Polo teams. La Berta registered an easy 10-6 win over Alem Polo.

Justo Cuitinho scored the first goal and Ed Banner Eve closed the first chukker with a lead for the Alem Polo team.

The highlight of the second chukker was the back to back goals from Justo and Juan Cruz Araya. The second half of the game was a race to reduce the gap in scores from Alem Polo team with a goal from Tariq Al Habtoor and Eve.

Earlier, the first game of the tournament started on equal footing as the first chukker ended with both teams having one goal. However, Battistoni Polo delivered consecutive goals from Maxi Malacalza and Tomy Iriarte and gained a five-goal advantage past halftime which was enough to seal the win for them by a margin of 6 goals to 4 against Altamira Polo.

The Polo Masters Cup 2021 is sponsored by Al Nahda Contracting and Trading Co. Ltd.  Meanwhile, Habtoor Al Habtoor — patron of the Dubai Wolves Polo Team — announced that CAFU is the team sponsor of Dubai Wolves in the IFZA Silver Cup 2021, and the IFZA Gold Cup 2021 scheduled to take place from Feb.14 to March 5.

Habtoor Al Habtoor is the son of polo patron and Emirati businessman Mohammad K Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman and CEO of Al Habtoor Group.

Habtoor Al Habtoor thanked his new sponsor, saying, “I am grateful for the confidence that CAFU has placed in my team by way of this sponsorship during the region’s two most important polo tournaments.

“This synergy further reinforces the strength of the Dubai Wolves team for this season, there is no doubt in my mind that the lineup that we have chosen for the team has never been more on point in history, all we see over yonder is glory.”

“As a Dubai-born and pioneering company, we at CAFU are delighted to lend our support not just to a sport that’s close to the hearts of our inspiring leadership, but also to Dubai Wolves who are an exemplary team. We wish Habtoor Al Habtoor and the rest of the Dubai Wolves team the best, and look forward to an exciting tournament”, said Antonio Al Asmar, General Manager, CAFU.

Some of the world’s best and homegrown polo players have confirmed their participation in the Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC) Series’ major tournaments. Habtoor commented: “The fact that all teams carry a handicap of 17 to 18 goals adds a new dimension to the DPGC Series, and a recognition of it being on a par with high-level tournaments in the world.”

The DPGC Series is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.