National Open....let the games begin..!!

The Prestige of Pakistan

The 2012 National Open Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup starts from tomorrow. Wow, I got goose bumps just writing the top line. The penultimate, the grand finale, the mother of all cups, the top prize, the numero uno team, the king of the hill..... i can go on...really.. but i think you get the point. This is Pakistan's most coveted trophy, check out the math, 

14 -goal handicap

5 - chukkers per game

0 - handicaps awarded, open format. 

2 - foreign players in a team allowed. 

8-  teams.

4 - games a day

30- matches. 

8 - match days. 

2- weeks of action packed polo. 

1 - winner !!.. 

Starting Feb 28 at the Lahore Polo Club, let the games begin..!!

Played on a league system where every one plays everyone once, the top two team play the final on Sunday 11 March. 

Here are the teams. 

1. Colony Sugar. 

Now this is a strong side and the title favorites by far. They've won both the Aibak Cup and the 125 year old Punjab Cup with convincing margins. This team revolves around the, near lethal, combination of Raul Laplacette (6) and Santiago Mendivil (4). The supporting cast is Naveed Sheikh (+2) and Hussain Iftikhar (+1). Raul and Santi have shown how well they combine, specially on the offensive since Santi is known for his blistering runs across the field every time Raul hits a long ball. Naveed and Hussain are excellent blockers and constantly hassle the opposition. They're mounted superbly, the whole team .i.e., and are well coordinated unit that comes in with a game plan every time. 

Player to watch: Santi Mendivil. Straight out of a 1970's Mardi Grass festival, with his long locks and a Jesus look, chomping a gum all throughout the game, certainly the image personified of a Latin polo god. Keep your eye on him, ladies... can't take their eyes off him.!!. 

Santi on Nina. Pic by HRK Niazi. 

2. Master Paints. 

Gaston Moore and his side kick Ignacio Del Tour with the two Sufi brothers. Now I've written a lot about the prowess and ability of Gaston, and if you've been following this blog, you'd know what I mean. But tell you what, that was all good during the 12 goals tournaments, come 14 goals, the game has changed. Gaston is a marked man and has taken more hits and bumps than Mike Tyson's opponent. Its a simple game plan for the opposition. Take Gaston out and the game is in the bag. Good strategy but easier said than done. This guy is a one man demolition squad and very very effective. The critical element is his three supporting players. They play well enough and he can take them to victory. 

Player to watch - Gaston Moore. He'll hang from his horse, tap in the air, bump you harder than a freight train and will hit a back hander, only to be the first one to pick it up himself. 

Gaston, out of the saddle, one stirrup gone, horse nearly down, still has the ball.... go figure..
Pic. by HRK Niazi

3. Pakistan Army

General Patuadi marshaling his trooping quartet, with high hopes of lifting the Cup. The right idea but the not so right combination. This team revolves around James Harper (6), Timmy 'Tenora' Raja (3), Ahmed 'Nachi' Tiwana (+2) and General Pataudi (3) who, from rear guarding is now spear heading the attack. It's a good team on paper but seem to be running out of luck and  a few game plans at times. The General has wisely switched from taking the knock-in to streaking down the field on Harper's long passes. It's an effective strategy and with the General's fast horses, he's almost unreachable. But they seem under pressure when they play, and need to relax and start enjoying their polo. James Harper has a great mind and knows how to use his team mates well. Timmy must get stronger defensivly as it will be his job to the take the number 2 player out in the other team. Nachi has some great shots in his arsenal and can do well.  No reason why they don't do well in this tournament. They're a strong 4 man team. 

Player to watch. James 'ram rod' Harper. He's deadly in penalties, hits a long ball and has the sweetest back hander in the game.

4. Nestle. 

Pakistan's answer to the Fast and the Furious. Our very own Desi (local) boys getting together to give it a shot at the title. And mind you, the shot is more like a canon ball of fire. This is a seriously good team. Qubilai Alam (3) at back, and there's a 100 yard knock-in for you, good luck bringing the ball back, ahead of him is Raja 'Sammy' Sami Ullah (5), the lynch pin of our national side. Then it's Saqib Khakwani (3), a hard worker in the middle and at the tip of this streaking arrow is young Hamza Mawaz (+2). Take this combo, mix it up and you have a very very effective winning combination. Their only draw back, when compared to others, is their lack of depth in the pony lines. It's my favorite pick of the lot and I rate them pretty highly. They've played a week and are pumped up and rearing to prove a point. I think they just might..!

Player to watch - Sammy, the mainstay and the play maker. In the game he's got the heart of the lion and the strength of a bull. 

Hamza, eyes on the ball. Pic. by Ahmed Sajjad Kayani

5. Guard Group/Newage. 

Taimur 'TM' Malik (+2) and Adnan 'AD' Jalil (+1) put together a team with Shamyl 'pretty boy' Alam (4) and Hissam 'Namu" Hyder (6), Pakistan's pride and joy. This has got to be the most unpredictable side in the competition so far. They can beat any team or they can turn in to a one big fouling machine and give the game away. Shamyl is playing well and with Namu back from Dubai after playing the Cartier Cup, he's fit as a fiddle. They have the horses and the skill to win this. They key is the combination between Shamyl and Namu and its critical for TM and AD NOT to foul. Get this going and they're all set. 

Player to watch - Namu. at 6 goals is Pakistan's highest handicap player and certainly the play maker of the team. 

Namu playing in Dubai. Pic. courtesy The First Group Polo/Namu's FB page. 

6. Diamond Paints/Hattaf. 

The stingy paint and gun combination (no, not paint ball) of Mir Shoaib's (+1) Diamond Paints and Hassan Commando's (+2) Hattaf Security company. Vieri Antoneri (6) is back in the side after his week long stint in Dubai and with Bilal Haye (3) completing the team, the Diamond boys are set to go. Its a good team that took Gaston's side in to the sudden death chukkar last week. Hassan taking the knock-ins and Vieri & Co. galloping ahead. Who knows, they might post an upset. 

Player to watch - Vieri Antoneri. He's an attacking forward, a lot depends on him. 

7. BBJ Pipes. 

Ahmed Zubair's (+2) last minute team comprising Garrardo Mazzini (6), Ahmed Ali Tiwana (3) and Major Umer Minhas (3). I can't say much here except that they need to have better horses as the others are mounted superbly. Mazzini has been a regular visitor here and way back in 2004-5, he was a force to be reckoned with. Mazzini the Monster he was popularly known back then. His supporting cast is Ahmed Ali, fast and flashy, Umer Minhas, hard working in the middle and Ahmed 'dead-eye' Zubair. Give Mazzini good horses and he'll turn his magic back on. 


Player to watch - Mazzini, he's here to prove there's still a roar left in him. 




8. Al Khan/Ciros


Dr. Iftikhar Ali Khan 'Simba' (+2) finally throws his hat in the ring and enters a team centered around Manual Crespo (7), Shaukat Ali Malik (+2) and Omar Malhi (+2). Simba is a one man orchestra and his presence on and off the field cannot go unnoticed. He's a great motivator and  you will hear him above all in the ground. Manual Crespo will get an earful after every play, good or bad. Shaukat and Malhi combine together to give horses to Crespo who should be decently mounted now. This team can pull a few surprises so i'm not counting them off any time soon. 


Player to watch - I have to say.... Simba... !!!. you simply can't ignore him in the field. Watch the game and you'll know what i mean. 

The Punjab Cup Trophy, L to R, Simba, Asif (Ciro's),
 Salman Taseer  (Late Governor of Punjab) & Carmilla Conroy, US envoy to Punjab.
Pic by Baba Dody, Pakistan's premier polo photographer.  

This sums up the teams and their intro. I'll try to keep you updated on the games and how they progress. Stay logged in... till then, 


cheers, 


Agha