Ghantoot take on Team Emirates in Gold Cup

Abu Dhabi: Hosts Ghantoot take on Team Emirates today in the first match of the eighth edition of the Ghantoot Gold Cup Polo Championship at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The annual event, sponsored by Horse and Courses, is being held under the sponsorship of Shaikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Ghantoot Polo Club.

Saeed Al Houfan Al Mansouri, from the Board of Directors of the Polo Club, told a press conference on Wednesday that the competition will feature three teams including Ghantoot (total handicap 14), Team Emirates (14) and the sponsor's team Horse and Courses (13).

"The Ghantoot Gold Cup is one of the most important championships as far as the participating teams and players are concerned," added Al Mansouri.

Horse and Courses has been associated with the championship for the third consecutive year.

Oscar Colombres of the multi-title winning Ghantoot team said that all the senior Emirati players were very talented and some of the best amateur polo players were prominent local players.

Commenting on his team's chances, Colombres said, "Polo is a game of teamwork and the best organised team will prevail".

The inaugural event in 2001 was won by Al Naboudah, followed by First Gulf Bank in 2002, Ghantoot won in 2003, Al Basti in 2004. Ghantoot won the title again in 2006 and 2007 and will be looking to complete a hat-trick.

National players Ahmad Bin Desmal, Ali Al Merri, Nasser Al Dhaheri and Abdullah Bin Desmal were present at the press briefing.