The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup

TEXT: FARRYN DAY PHOTOGRAPHY: HILARY O’LEARY

A NEW FORMAT AND LOTS TO CELEBRATE

The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup, held annually at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg, is one of the highlights of the African Polo Calendar. In 2019 and previous years, the Africa Cup was played over two weekends, the first weekend being a qualifying weekend, in which the best four South African teams were chosen to progress to the finals’ weekend. These four South African Teams were then up against four visiting sides from across the African continent.

Due to COVID and the challenges faced by African teams travelling to South Africa, in 2020 the Cell C Inanda Africa Cup was played by two South African Development sides. A first for African Polo, the match was live streamed across various platforms, while social media influencers commented and kept fans engaged from across the world on game day.

THE CELL C INANDA AFRICA CUP 2021

This year, the format has evolved once again. The visiting side originates from Nigeria, with the South African side being selected from Development Players. This is an enormous honour for our South African Development Players, with the experience and exposure gained being invaluable. Most of the development players chosen currently work as grooms for professional polo players and have spent years producing and caring for their ponies. You too can watch the match on the Official Inanda YouTube Channel. Or follow: @inandaclub @sao_polo_ @citypoloatinanda

Due to COVID, it was incredibly tough to arrange for the Nigerian players to visit and play in the 2021 Cell C Inanda Africa Cup, as one of the players contracted COVID while another was exposed and unable to travel. Once again, the South Africans stepped in and made a plan, quickly arranging for local development players Thulani Phungula and Zompie Totetsi to play for team SAO Polo Nigeria, along with Nigerians Ope Oyinlola and Magaji Saidu Barda.

The talented Masedi Molosiwa, Bafana Skosana, Thokozane Zondo and Donono Lithula represented team Cell C South Africa in this tightly contested match.

When playing internationally, visiting players do not arrive with their own horses but rather ‘rent’ horses from local players. This year, Team City Polo Inanda mounted five of the eight players and proudly came home with the prestigious ‘Best Playing Pony’ trophy. Both Bafana and Zompie are part of the City Polo Inanda team and winning Best Playing Pony further validates the effort and care that the grooms put into the ponies.

THE DAY ITSELF

Saturday the 19th of June was a day filled with excitement as the teams prepared for the big event. To encourage the next generation of polo stars, the Inanda kids were invited to play an opening match after which Team Inanda took on their rivals from the East Rand Polo Club. In an action-packed contest, the game was won by Team Inanda, winning 6 – 5 in extra time.

At 14:45 the Inanda Cell C Africa Cup went live on various platforms across the world including the Inanda You-Tube channel, PoloPlus10.com, and the Total Horse Channel USA, and the pony lines were abuzz with excitement and anticipation.

Forcing the South Africans into a running start, Magaji Saidu Barda (popularly known as ‘Mags’) scored the first goal within minutes of the start whistle. Then, in an exhilarating display of skill, team South Africa scored a brilliant field goal, levelling the scores 3-3 at half time. Ultimately it was Team SAO Polo Nigeria that were victorious with Mags taking the 3rd penalty of the match, bringing the final score to 7 – 4. Mags showed his true value on the field and was awarded the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the match.

THE PLAYERS

TEAM SOUTH AFRICA: 1. Masedi Molosiwa: Masedi only discovered polo later in life, but that hasn’t stopped him from living the polo lifestyle, becoming obsessed with all things polo! Masedi plays out of Watermark Polo Club. 2. Bafana Skosana: Bafana started his polo career as a groom in 2010. Currently part of Team City Polo Inanda, Bafana is affectionately known as the ‘Young Horse Man’ and schooling and making of polo ponies off the track is

ABOUT THE GAME

Positions and roles Players are assigned positions numbered 1 to 4. Number 1 can be compared to a ‘Striker’, with their primary focus being to attack, create opportunities and score goals. Number 2 is the ‘Delivery Guy’, ensuring forward play, and delivering the ball to the Number 1. Number 3 is pivotal and is labelled the ‘PlayMaker’, setting up movements and play, often played by the most experienced player on the team. Number 4 is the ‘Defender’, with their priority being to bring the ball off the back line and up to their team-mates in attack.

Are they ponies or horses? Originally the size of polo ponies was restricted and no ponies over 14hh could play. However, in 1919, height restrictions were abandoned allowing for horses of any size to take part. Although this rule was changed many years ago, polo players still choose horses at around 15h – 16hh, and polo horses are still referred to as ‘polo ponies.’

The ponies Argentina and Uruguay are the biggest producers of polo ponies worldwide, with most being bred from a combination of local Criollo horses and Thoroughbreds. In South Africa, the vast majority of polo ponies are Thoroughbreds which started their lives on the racetrack and have transitioned into polo as their new career. In fact, many of our local Thoroughbred polo ponies have been exported to the UK, Europe and South America with a few earning the prestigious ‘Most Valuable Pony’ at the best tournaments in the world. his ultimate passion. Often heard referring to his horses as ‘his babies’ Bafana’s love of the game stems from his love of training young horses. 3. Thokozane Zondo: Born and raised in Bergville, KZN, Thokozane grew up on a farm owned by polo player Jimmy Uys. His love for horses and polo soon developed and Thokozane now teaches new players to ride and play polo at Gunsmoke Polo on the East Rand. 4. Donono Lithula (Captain): Donono is from Kokstad and started riding in 2009. In 2014 he joined Bropolo in Harrismith as a young horse rider and has never looked back! Donono is an incredible horseman and has been awarded many ‘Most Valuable Player’ prizes, most recently at FreeState Champs.

TEAM SAO POLO NIGERIA: 1. Thulane Phungula (SA): Thulane is known as the ‘Madallah’ of the East Rand Polo Club and is a highly respected rider and horseman. Thulane’s talent lies with bringing on young horses and nurturing them to become great polo ponies. 2. Magaji Saidu Barda: ‘Mags’ was born into an equestrian family in Abuja, Nigeria. His grandfather Alhaji Abba Kalli, a ‘kingmaker’ in the Katsina State Emirate Council, was one of the first local players to play in Nigeria. Mags plays all over the world, with his home being at Guards Polo Club in Abuja. The Inanda Cell C Africa Cup was his debut in South Africa, making the prize of ‘Most Valuable Player’ that much more special. 3. Ope Oyinlola (Captain): Ope is an international businessman based at the Lagos Polo Club in Nigeria. Also from a polo family, Ope is the last of his brothers to learn to play polo. He is a self-confessed polo addict and hopes that his daughters will one day learn to play too. 4. Zompie Totetsi (SA): Zompie started his polo career in the Free State at Polo Africa, and his love for horses was immediate. Now a professional, he has played for South Africa in numerous Internationals over the past few years. Now, Zompie is part of City Polo at Inanda, and with his calm nature he is an excellent polo coach - inspiring riders of all ages.

A MOMENT OF SUSPENSION

In 1878 Eadweard Muybridge set out to answer the question about suspension during the gallop. Leland Standford, a former California Governor, was convinced that there was a moment of suspension and commissioned Muybridge to obtain proof. Muybridge set up 12 cameras along a track that were able to take photos with an exposure lasting a fraction of a second. As the horse galloped past the cameras it tripped wires that were connected to the cameras resulting in the 12 cameras capturing 12 photographs in quick succession and proving Standford right.

As we all now know, there is a moment in the gallop where the horse has all four feet off the ground i.e. a moment of suspension!