June 13, 2011
South Africa easily defeat Nigeria 13 - 5 in the opening game of the FIP Polo World Cup - Zone D playoffs being played in Malaysia.

 

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The FIP Polo World Cup Asian-Australiasian-African championships got off to a tremendous start at the Royal Pahang Polo Club in Pekan, Pahang. HRH Sultan of Pahang opened the championships by receving the impressive new championship trophy, The Malaysia Cup, from the Vice-Presidents of the RMPA, HH Tengku Sri Panglima Raja, Tengku Baderulzaman and Dato' Mohamed Moiz. He then rang a ceremonal bell to indicate the start of the championships.

After introductions to the teams, South Africa and Nigeria got the champinships underway. The teams were led onto the field by Audi's R8 and A8 cars. After a royal salute by the players, HRH Sultan Pahang was handed the match ball by FIP President Eduardo Huergo. He performed a ceremonial throwing-in of the ball to start the match.

2007 championship winners South Africa were too strong for Nigeria, who were making a return to international polo ater a 20 year gap. The Nigerians started well and held the South Africans at bay for the first half of the first chukka. They were tied at 2-2 before South Africa's Lance Watson and cousin Duncan Watson started to dominate. And dominate they did. They took South Africa to a 4-2 lead by the end of the first chukka, a lead they would only increase as the game went on.

It was still a game at 5 - 3 at the end of the second, but South Africa blew Nigeria away with four unanswered goals in the third chukka. They added two more in the fourth chukka to put the game well beyond any hope of the come-back.

Hamisu Buba replaced Bello Bubba midway through the 4th chukka as Nigeria's 5-goal Rambo was injured, though not seriously. Hamisu got two goals in the final chukka to make the final score of 13 - 5 seem a little more respectable.

All the South Africans got on the scoreboard. Lance Watson was the star of the South African show, scoring 7 goals in the match. Duncan Watson commanded the midfield well, prompting South Africa's attacks with penetrating distribution of the ball. Campbell MacNab was a stalwart in defence and even managed a couple of goals. Johann Du Preez got late call-up for South Africa when Sbu Duma had to pull out with a knee ligament injury, and made a good debut for his country, working hard in attack and getting a nice goal in the third chukka.

Nigeria's goals came from Bello Buba (2), Hamisu Buba (2) and Ibrahim Mohammed (1).

The umpires for the match were Argentine Open umpires Gonzalo Bunge and Nicholas Scortichinni. The referee was JJ Diaz Alberdi.

Teams:

South Africa

1.Johann Du Preez +2
2.Lance Watson +4
3.Duncan Watson +4
4.Campbell MacNab +3
Team Total 14 goals

Nigeria

1.Malik Badamasi +1
2.Bello Buba +5
3.Mohammad Babangida +4
4.Ibrahim Mohammed +4
Subsitute: Hamisu Buba +4

Team Total 14 goals