Daily Independent Online.
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Monday,July 19, 2004.
Kano Polo: Lagos Machine ends victory
drought, wins Dantata Cup
By Pius Anakali
Senior
Correspondent
in Kano
The only Lagos team
competing in the on-going MTN sponsored polo tournament, Lagos Machine Sunday
at the Kano Race course piped their opponent Kano BUA in the Dantata Cup by 7-6.
With the victory,
the famed Lagos Machine has ended a winless streak that has trailed it in the
last two seasons.
The round which was
played over five Chukka’s saw the visiting team from Lagos taking
effective control of the field with occasional foray into the home team’s
dangerous zone.
Lagos Machine
romped into an early lead when Adamu Yaro connected a pass from Madugu Dantata
and a solo run down the flank for the first goal of the match.
Few minutes into
the end of the first Chukka, the marauding Lagos Machine made it double with
another brilliant strike from the team engine room Madugu Dantata.
The situation
remained the same until the end of the first Chukka.
On resumption for
the second Chukka, the more determined Kano BUA parading the very skilful
Bashir Bashir powered back to the game with some brilliant runs, but met stiff
opposition from Lagos Machine who were out to rewrite history.
The team completely
overwhelmed the home side when the
Madugu led counterpart also resulted in a quick goal to bring the tally to
3-goals in favour of the team.
Now, not wanting to
be disgraced in their back yard, Kano Bua fought back and were rewarded with a goal less than four
minutes to the end of the second Chukka. Gingered by the turn of events, BUA,
quickly banked on the confusion in the Lagos Machine area to slot in another to
bring score to 3-2 just on the dot of the second Chukka.
Thereafter the
round became a one team show as the BUA urged on by the supportive home team
took total control until they brought score to 6-6 after the final Chukka.
But respite came
the way of Lagos Machine when it quickly rallied round and netted the winning
goal.
Though BUA gave a good account of themselves Lagos Machine
won because they were determined to end their winless tales that have trailed
them over the years.
