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Sayyu Dantata: The making of an MVP
pius anakali
Senior Correspondent
Nobody has ever doubts his ability, neither has his
quality of play questioned. That is why wherever Sayyu Dantata goes to play
polo; his presence has always added some fervour to the game. So when his name
cropped up in the list of those who would dorn the nation’s
green-white-green at the Africa Masters along side Adamu Atta +4, Bashir
Dantata +3 and Mohammed Babangida +4 many expected him to do well.
True to his rating, the slightly built Sayyu gave all
he has in a match that brought the best in the Nigeria team.
Although South Africa won the second edition of the
just concluded Vmobile African Masters International polo fiesta,
Nigeria’s Sayyu emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Gold Cup
category of the tournament, Aly Kashef a +2 and Captain of the Egyptian team,
won MVP in the Silver Cup category, even as the pony he rode on also won the
Best Playing Pony in the Silver Cup category.
But Sayyu horsemanship was the issue of the day and
the talk of the moment. To emerge MVP in the tournament, Sayyu scored a total
of 7 of the total 12 scored by the Nigeria team. While Sayyu was celebrating
his feat in the High Goal category, Egypt player, Aly Kashef also savour honour
he got from his exemplary display in the Silver Cup category.
Aly scored 8 goals out of the 17 _ scored in the
three matches played against Ghana, Zambia, and Nigeria. Beside the goals
scored, their overall contributions to the performance of their respective
teams was another factor put into consideration before they were awarded MVPs
awards. For instance, Sayyu Dantata’s exemplary performance during the
final match against South Africa where he outshone the likes of Steve Evans, whose
excellent performance in the previous match also put him in good stead for the
award. Sayyu Dantata’s exemplary and proficiency on the pony is to say
the least enterprising. And this, he translated into his scoring goal getting
into his credit 5 of the 7 goals recorded in the final match against South
Africa.
Aly’s exploit in their three matches against
Nigeria’s Team B, Zambia, and Ghana gave him the prized award against
Nigeria’s Ibrahim Mohammed. Mohammed was at his best during the matches,
but Aly Kashef’s deft moves and penchants for scoring goals gave him the
prized award. The pony he rode on also won the Best Playing Pony of the Silver
Cup category. This is a rare situation where a player and the pony he rode on
would both win similar awards in the same tournament.
However, those who know the stuff the patron of Lagos
High Goal Team MRS is made off would easily tell he is a performer any day. At
the maiden edition of the championship, where he operated behind ‘the
Teacher’, as Dawule Buba is often called, Sayyu wa sthe cynosure of all
eyes, scoring difficult goals and many other assists. Prior to that
championship, Sayyu was also voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Lagos
International Polo Tournament held in February 2003.
Sayyu whose rampaging form since coming out of a
career threatening skiing accident three years ago earned him many fans, is the
patron of a Lagos based high-goal team, Lagos MRS and a first choice number two
player who has played the game internationally. His valuable contribution which
earned Lagos IBTC their first Majekodunmi Cup title, is still fresh in the
minds of polo buffs across the country
Why
Santa Paula Pony Are Hot Choices
Yes, there are Argentine thoroughbred horses. So also
are the Sudan horses, which are common, bred in this part of the world. But
while these reputable ponies are making wave all over the world, the Santa
Paula ponies are some of the most superb group Found in USA.
These 44 crossbred animals are one of the main
reasons why the Santa Paula team is so powerful. This team achieved eleven
consecutive victories during its tour around the United States of America.
The abundant telegraphic information published by the
metropolitan newspapers mentioned this group of horses several times as being
the best ever taken to The United States. This is the result of the magnificent
tour the argentine team belonging to the Santa Paula Club is carrying out in
California (United States), led by their captain Manuel Andrada. Undoubtedly,
these animals are believed to be one of the main factors regarding the strength
of the Santa Paula team, bearing in mind their eleven consecutive victories
which are considered a deed never equaled in the annals of sport. In point of
fact, the 44 animals under the expert management of Thomas Nelson in the
aforementioned country were chosen meticulously by the actual players, who took
their time to select them among the best they could find in order to create an
homogeneous lot. Within this group there are a great deal of valuable
specimens.
Alfredo
Harrington's Florelle
Forty-four superb ponies As well as the individual
playing features of each of the team's components, the fast and energetic game
played by the Santa Paula team required horses to be unbeatable, fast,
intelligent and strong. Besides, they needed to be capable of putting up with
intense work in a game of eight chukkers, galloping most of the time. This was
absolutely necessary in order to act in the efficient manner desired. As a
result, the selection of these animals was a laborious task. Forty-five were
chosen, out of which only forty-four reached the United States because one of them
died on the way there. Incidentally, the argentine players' faith in the
condition of their studs was not frustrated, and these animals responded
admirably to the requirements of their jockeys. In spite of the pressing
demands of various hard-fought games, they performed satisfactorily at all
times, thus causing the admiration of the American experts. Notwithstanding the
short time they had to become acclimatized, since a few days after arriving in
Midwick the ponies were subjected to the first training with their respective
jockeys, with the exception of a few, the rest behaved excellently. It seemed
as though they did not miss our polo fields or the weather of our region too
much.
It was a rough trip from Chile to California We must
bear in mind a highly significant detail: the trip from Chile to the United
States was extremely rough. They carried a special training device on board,
kindly granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary, in order
to keep the ponies in good shape. In spite of this, during most of the 47 days
which the trip lasted there was a terrible storm that not only prevented them
from training but also made quite a few of the animals fight among themselves.
After overcoming an endless number of difficulties they arrived at their
destination with only three sick ponies, two of which had fever and the other
had a strong cold.
José
Reynal's Catarú
After traveling 25 miles between the port of San Pedro and
Midwick, where the studs were supposed to stay, the ponies were bathed in a
creoline solution and, except for those that were sick, the rest ate their
night ration without a problem. Although still a bit weak, the animals were
subjected to a light training that was intensified once the players arrived a
few days later. If we had to give an opinion on the ponies' performance
throughout the tour, we would have to repeat what has already been said about
the whole group since they are one of the main factors in achieving the
victories for the Santa Paula team.
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