Argentines hit Nigeria for Access Bank Polo

By Solomon Nwoke
JULIO Novillo Astrada, a plus Eight Handicap from Argentina leads his two other top compatriots, Diego White, +7 Handicap and Diego Araya,  +7 Handicap and top Polo players from all over African to the continent’s premium polo extravaganza as the annual Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament gallops off at the Fifth Chukker lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna from May 23 to June 3, 2012. The two-week long tournament sponsored by Access Bank Plc is in its 5th year running

Addressing the media yesterday in Lagos in respect of the tournament, the Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, Obeahon Ohiwerei  who was representated by the firm’s Head of Corporate Communications, Omobolanle Babatunde said the that proceed from sale of memorabilia at the annual tournament in addition to the N5million donation from Access Bank Plc, would be used to support UNICEF in its campaign against HIV AIDS pandemic.

Ohiwerei said sponsorship of the multi-million naira charity shield was renewed for another four years after the expiration of the initial contract in 2011; with a handsome offer of Twenty Thousand Dollars as prize money for the overall champions and lots of consolation prizes for runners up.

“Our renewal of this sponsorship deal is a reflection of our commitment to socio-economic wellbeing of mankind and acknowledgement of the impact the initiative has had on the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children in Kaduna State and its environ.”

“Access Bank’s sponsorship of the tournament is as a result of the similarities in the tournament’s objective and the Bank’s relentless campaign against the pandemic,” Ohiwerei said adding that Access Bank was committed to supporting the charity shield event  organized in partnership with UNICEF.

He said the polo fiesta which has been the biggest sporting attraction in Nigeria and perhaps on the African continent for the past five years promises to be the most competitive and exciting with a record number of twenty-one teams loaded with international stars from around the world expected to vie for honours.

Also speaking, Captain of the 5th  Chukkers Polo Club,  Babangida Hassan Katsina 12 teams would vie for the Access Bank Cup which include Unkage petroleum,Defcom, Last Chukker, Sub Riders, Manarat, Rambo while others are Yula farms, YY, Safaz Shelter, R.T.C, Deebee Farms and Agad.

Five teams of -2 to +7 Handicapps would compete in the Charity Shield and they are Bankole Foundation, Barbedos, Keffi Ponies, M.R.S. And Access Bank Fifth Chukker while the UNICEF Cup would be vied for by Four teams  which also include Work to Ride, American University Yola, Nigeria Turkish Nile University and Deebee Farms 2. The Fifth Chukkers Captain also assured that security of all participants have been guarranteed  as the club has been in touch with all the security Agents in the country.