2020 Carnival Polo Tourney: Jos Malcomines edge past Abuja Lintex in 14-goal thriller

Wed, Nov 11, 2020
By editor
3 MIN READ

Sports

Hamisu Buba (+4) struck late in the fifth chukker for Malcomines to snatch a 7 and a half to 7 goals win over shell-shocked Lintex in a nerve-wracking game at the ongoing Nigeria National Carnival Polo Tourney in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high goal match was for bragging rights in the President’s Cup (for handicaps 11-15) as both teams slugged it out in a neck-to-neck encounter at the Guards Polo Club.

Both teams are traditional rivals as they had met at several occasions with the Jos-based Malcomines having a slight edge over their Abuja based counterparts in the head-to-head statistics

Malcomines, who were awarded half a goal to level the teams’ handicap difference at the start of the first chukker, made it count as they maintained their lead at the end of the fourth chukker with a 6 and a half to 6 goal score line.

The key player for Malcomines was the highly rated Hamisu Buba (+4), the younger brother of Bello Buba (+4), Nigeria’s number one ranked polo player.

He scored a total of six goals for Malcomines, thanks to Argentine’s Juan Cruz (+5) who was the engine room of the team, creating a lot of goal opportunities for Buba and also grabbing a goal of his own.

The Abuja-based Lintex team, on the other hand, had the hired assassin South Africa’s Chris McKenzie, in their arsenal as he scored a total of six goals for them.

Bashir Dantatata (+3) was the Lintex midfield maestro who created a lot of scoring chances for the team and also grabbed a goal of his own in the first chukker.

It was, however, Malcomines’ day as they held on to the half goal advantage at the end of the pulsating encounter and ensured they stayed top of the group table with three points.

The other match in the high goal category saw the Sen. Hadi Sirika-led Rubicon locking horns with Hon. Ahmed Wadada-led Keffi Ponys on Wednesday for a shot at the President’s Cup.

NAN also reports that in other matches played on Tuesday, ZMD Group beat Titans/M-Seven 5 goals to 2, while Susplan whipped Katsina Kangiwa 9 goals to 4 and a half goal in the FCT Minister’s Cup (for players with handicaps of 3-6).

Rubicon 2 beat Sikka Spa and Salon 5 goals to 4 and a half also in the FCT Minister’s Cup, while FAS Agro beat Casiva 6 and a half goals to 4 in the Legislative Shield (for players with 7-10 handicaps).

The tournament, which began on Nov. 9, is expected to climax with the grand finale on Sunday. (NAN)

– Nov. 11, 2020 @ 9:35 GMT |

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