The first week of the 2016 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament
has come and gone with great success with Iyatu Farms clinching the
UNICEF Cup and BUA claiming the Argentinean Ambassador’s Cup.
But it wasn’t all about polo this past
week; Fifth Chukker and Access Bank in partnership with UNICEF hosted
Children’s Day with 150 children in grand style. They invited five
schools which can be classified as privileged to join children from
Maraban Jos Government Primary School which are classified as
underprivileged receiving support from UNICEF. The day was a day to
remember for all involved, with bouncing castles, horse riding, tennis,
face painting, arts & crafts, dancing, basketball and a delicious
lunch ending with a presentation in line with UNICEF’s theme this year
ENVAC – End Violence Against Children.
Adding to the philanthropic drive of the
tournament were the only non-Nigerian team in the 15-team UNICEF Cup;
called SA Poloafrica all of whom are underprivileged black boys from the
poor rural areas of South Africa – Sponsored by the South African
Tourism Board.
The tournament assumed more glamour and
was spiced up as diplomats floored the event on its first weekend. They
include the British High Commissioner, the Argentinean, Ecuadorian,
Spanish, Italian and Polish and Danish Ambassadors, who were all
thrilled by the top-class facilities by the Fifth Chukker Polo &
Country Club Resort.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright described the Fifth Chukker Resort as a great place.
“I have been to Kaduna twice in my eight months as the British High Commissioner but this is my first visit to the Fifth Chukker and its a great place and wonderful place. Its well planned and it should be a pride of Nigeria, ” he said.
Arkwright also thumbed up the
partnership between Access bank and UNICEF declaring that they are
working for a great course for humanity.
The Italian Ambassador Fulvio Rustico,
was equally marveled at the serenity of the Fifth Chukker Resort as he
urged Nigeria to invest in tourism to boost its economy.
On his part, an impressed Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrzej Dycha
declared: “I will like more foreigners especially those like me that
are from Abuja which is not too far from here to come and spend some of
their weekends at the Fifth Chukker.
“The fact that about ten of us
(Ambassadors) are here together shows that security has improved. This
is a wonderful facility and the serenity is so amazing.”
The action continued from Wednesday June
1 to Sunday June 5, 2016 with Nigerian polo stars like Adamu Atta (+3),
Babangida Hassan (+3), Bashir Dantata (+3), Malik Badamasi (+3), Idris
Badamasi (+3) and Jamilu Mohammed (+3) mixing in action with
international pros from Argentina among who are Manuel Crespo (+7),
Julio Nowillo Astrada (+7), Diego White(+6) and Santiago Cernadas
(+6). South African pros Leroux Hendrix (+5) and Tom De Bruin (+7) are
also making an appearance for what promises to be an exciting galloping
explosion in the Access Bank Cup (Medium Goal) and the Charity Shield
(High Goal)
It is the first in the series that will
climax in Europe with the Access Bank Charity Shield Polo Day at the
prestigious Guards Polo Club in London in July.
Title Sponsors of the event is Access Bank with the rest being Team
Sponsor South African Tourism Board Product Sponsors Nigerian Breweries,
Veuve Cliquot, Ashton Wells, Da Viva Fabrics and Dangote. Prize
Sponsors include Emirates Airways and Wakanow. Children’s Day
Sponsors were Peugeot Nigeria and Farm Pride. Event Sponsors: Broadband
Communication Network and WAPIC. Media Sponsor: Studio 24
For more information on the 2016 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament please visit www.fifthchukker.com | Facebook – Fifth Chukker | Instagram – Fifth Chukker | Twitter – Fifth Chukker | SnapChat – Fifth Chukker
Check out some photos from the event:
****
From The Stables…
Hope to see you this week!
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