Ghantoot narrowly defeated Bin Drai by 7 goals to 6 to claim the UAE National Day Cup at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, on Saturday December 3. The competition was one of many held at the club in preparation for the season, where the Silver Cup and the Gold Cup, both of which will be put up to 20 goals in 2023, will be played. The UAE National Day Cup sees five teams, up to 8 goals, partake.
The day started with a friendly kids game between Forsan and Malaky, in which many students from the Al Habtoor Polo Academy participated. Team Malaky took an early lead, with goals by Khalifa Al Maktoum and Alex Soerensen. MVP Allegra Kelly scored two consecutive goals in the next chukka to secure the win for Forsan.
The Subsidiary went to Ankora, who beat Mahra 7-4 in another thrilling match, whichn saw Tomás Iriarte seal the deal in the last chukka.
Ghantoot and Bin Drai played the final, with Esteban Panelo scoring first for Bin Drai. Ghantoot bounced back at half time to tie the match, and they continued to dominate into the last chukka. Bin Drai didn’t give up, however, and the last minutes were very exciting. But at the end of the day, Ghantoot scored the winning goal to take the 7-6 victory and take the win.
Martin Pedersen, Chairman and Jochen Knecht, CEO from International Free Zona Authority (IFZA) presented the awards, as did Anil Ramchandani, Director of Kachins Group, who presented Nasser Al Shamsi the MVP award. Facilidad, fidden by Miguel Delia, took BPP honors.
UAE NATIONAL DAY CUP – FINAL – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2:
GHANTOOT 7-6 BIN DRAI
GHANTOOT: Youssef Bin Desmal 1, Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Oscar Colombres 3, Miguel Delia 3. Total: 8.
BIN DRAI: Kim Roche -1, Rashid Bin Drai 2, Mohammed Bin Drai 2, Esteban Panelo 5. Total: 8.
SUBSIDIARY TROPHY
ANKORA 6-4 MAHRA
ANKORA: Ryyan Al Ajaji 0, Khalid Alomran 0, Guillermo Li 4, Tomás Iriarte 4. Total: 8.
MAHRA: Khalaf Al Habtoor 0, Tariq Al Habtoor 1, Facundo Neves 4, Tomás Palacios 3. Total: 8.
UAE National Day Cup – TEAMS:
HABTOOR: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Santos Iriarte 2, Justo Cuitiño 3, JJ Díaz Alberdi 3. Total: 8.
MAHRA: Khalaf Al Habtoor 0, Tariq Al Habtoor 1, Facundo Neves 4, Tomás Palacios 3. Total: 8.
GHANTOOT: Youssef Bin Desmal 1, Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Oscar Colombres 3, Miguel Delia 3. Total: 8.
BIN DRAI: Kim Roche -1, Rashid Bin Drai 2, Mohammed Bin Drai 2, Esteban Panelo 5. Total: 8.
ANKORA: Ryyan Al Ajaji 0, Khalid Alomran 0, Guillermo Li 4, Tomás Iriarte 4. Total: 8.
IMAGES:
UAE National Day Cup – FIXTURE:
Sunday, November 27
4pm: Bin Drai vs. Mahra
Tuesday, November 29
3pm: Ghantoot vs. Mahra
4pm: Ankora vs. Habtoor
Thursday, December 1
3pm: Habtoor vs. Ghantoot
4pm: Ankora vs. Bin Drai
Saturday, December 3 – FINALS:
2,30: Round robin subsidiary
4pm: Final UAE National Day Cup