ACCESS BANK FIFTH CHUKKER INTERNATIONAL POLO DAY SOUTH AFRICA

ANOTHERCAPEMAGIC!

THE MAIDEN ACCESS BANK FIFTH CHUKKER INTERNATIONAL POLO DAY SOUTH AFRICA MAKES A BIG SPLASH AND RESETS THE WESTERN CAPE CULTURAL CALENDAR.

The Fifth Chukker Access Bank partnership presented the Access Bank Gold Cup to highlight the Bank’s robust entry into the South African market. The March 2022 event was held in Val de Vie, South Africa’s most exclusive Lifestyle and Wellness Estate. It attracted a slate of Cape Town’s glitterati, as well as beautiful and sophisticated people from around the world, and it showcased African talent in Polo, fashion, cuisine and luxury experience.

The glamour-laden blast was the hottest ticket in town, benefiting the Nelson Mandela foundation which supports children’s charities such as the Nelson Mandela Children’s hospital in Johannesburg, a dedicated paediatric facility serving the children of South Africa. Access Bank South Africa CEO Sugendhree Reddy presented a 360,000 rand cheque to the foundation on the occasion, The day, naturally, rolled out with a courtly champagne reception in the expansive ballroom where arriving guests were beguiled by an exquisite fashion exhibition inspired by the fabrics of Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. World famous Port Elizabeth designer, Laduma Ngxokolo headlined an elite caste of couturiers, models, and producers, all deftly curated by socialite Mala Bryan,

Lunch, predictably, was another Uber-Afro smash featuring three of the continent’s top celebrity chefs. Morocco’s Moha Fedal

shared menu credits with South Africa’s Katlego Mlambo and Kyle Conradie. Hot on their scrumptious canapés and Hors d’oeuvres for the cocktails - which included beverages in Access blue and Fifth Chukker red - the trio trumped the taste buds again with more of their signature sizzles, such as slowly braised springbok shank, African carrot, Moroccan beldie chicken with lemon confit and olives. Gold medal Ethiopian coffee, syrupy Maghrebian desserts and a choice of Chardonnay or Sauvignon blanc from the Val de Vie vineyards complemented the Carte du jour.

Amid the wall-to-wall hospitality and non-stop revel, guests sashayed onto the terraces and garden for the day’s final event; back-to-back high-octane polo matches for the 214 year-old Gold Cup and the Emily Aig-Imoukhede Memorial Silver Cup, respectively. The silver cup was commissioned by Fifth Chukker from Christofle of Paris in memory of the mother of the pioneer Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhede.

As for that defining moment, the conundrum faced by many guests in nailing one was further compounded by the seductive optics from the polo field: Aigboje throwing in the match-starting ball from a topless Ferrari Portofino as it rolled away; thoroughbred polo ponies thundering around the pitch with heartthrobbing intensity; and star saxophonist Evan serenading rampantly coiffured ladies as they stomped back uprooted turf with their Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutins. By the time the Gold and Silver cups were well won and lost, the dramatic panorama of the sundown glowing lustrously over the Paarl valley mountains was now in full arresting perspective, offering the perfect backdrop for the presentations. Access bank board Chairman Ms Ajoritsedere Awosika, Access Corporation CEO Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank Managing Director Roosevelt Ogbonna, and MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita all took turns to hand out the trophies and other prizes to the winners, runners-up and officiators.

The Access Bank Fifth Chukker South Africa Polo Day was partnered by Ferrari, Jo Malone, Linde Jewelry and the South Africa Tourism Board. All the organizations benefited immensely from the high universal enthusiasm for their products and services.