Handicap 2, Phillip Arungah captained Mombasa Island Cargo Terminal to successfully defend the Chairman’s Cup at the Nairobi Polo Club at Jamhuri yesterday.
MICT (Arungah, Omwakwe Arungah 0.5, Karim Abbany -1 and Magda Jurkoweicka -2) beat Royal Salute 5-4 in the tournament finals to carry the day. Jamie Hayward 0.5, Anthony Wahome 0, Kevin Kaniu -0.5 and the on-form Natasha Tisminiesky -0.5 formed Royal Salute side.
The competition was quite tight but MICT strategically divided roles on and off the ball to their advantage. Whereas it was a father and son affair on the scoring front, Abany and Jurkoweicka were on point, man-marking their opponents.
Both teams propped tough opposition in the opening chukka and had a balanced second period with each team giving and taking a goal for 3-2 in favour of MICT. The third chukka saw MICT score a double and restricting Royal Salute to a single goal for 5-3. MICT were determined to widen their lead in the last chukka but Hayward’s side shut them out from their backline. The losers grabbed one goal in this period as MICT were goalless, ending the game 5-4.
Arungah swung in a hat-trick as Omwakwe curved in a brace. On the losing efforts Tisminiesky scored three goals as Wahome added one. Tisminiesky, who was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, wowed the crowds with her skills on and off the ball. “I had amazing teammates. Their efforts cannot go unrecognised. We also had very strong horses that made our work a little lighter. I can’t forget to thank my parents who’ve really supported me in the game,” said Tisminiesky.