TALK
FUTURE IMPERFECT If polo is to prosper, urgent changes are needed, according to one of the game’s greatest proponents, reports Alex Webbe
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action to support it and help it grow. Pointing out, while he was in Florida, that a number of the suggestions he had proposed were not self-serving and, in fact, worked against his own interests, he agreed that the sport was bigger than he was, but said he felt it was important to use his standing to make the game better for players at every level. ‘Some of the rules of polo are over 100 years old,’ he said. ‘But the game has changed and so must the rules, so as to reflect those changes. I’m hoping to stir things up and get some influential people talking to each other.’
Pieres stressed that he won’t have the time himself to implement the changes he requested; when he’s in town – whether that’s Buenos Aires, Wellington or London – he’s there to play polo. But he said he hoped there would be a strong enough reaction from within the polo community to push for those improvements he believes are so desperately needed. Adolfo Cambiaso has already offered to meet with him in Florida to discuss amendments that will positively affect the growth of the sport internationally. The polo superstar seemed to dial back on some of the ideas he initially offered, however.
CAMILLA SYKES
The entire polo community sat up and took notice when Argentine 10-goaler Facundo Pieres publicly questioned the very game that allowed him to climb to the highest ranks of play in the world. An interview with ClickPolo had resulted in a list entitled ‘FP’s 10 commandments’, listing those areas he felt strongly needed to change. Not all his suggestions were received with equal enthusiasm, however, as demonstrated by the range of responses on Twitter and Facebook. Nonetheless, it was clear the player ranked no 2 in the world was not attacking the sport, but trying to motivate the powers that be to take
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hurlinghampolo.com
03/02/2016 13:49
hurlingham
