Polo: Ghana win at last
Accra Polo Club finally savoured some independence glory when they beat Canada 6-3 in an international friendly at the Accra Polo Grounds last Saturday.
Two goals each from George Agyemang, Loic Devos and Eric Gene ensured a Ghana victory at the end of the fourth chukker.
The national polo team had lost two recent international friendlies against Nigeria and South Africa and were therefore bent on halting the trend against the Canadians.
The team, for the first time led by Captain Kwakye Dopoah-Dei as an attacker, midfielder George Agyemang, playmaker Eric Gene and defender Loic Devos, displayed the best of polo ever seen in many years to beat their Canadian counterparts.
The visitors comprised captain Don Penny Cook, attacker Rob Mishaal, playmaker Ramzi Ashkar and defender Rob Foster, and led an onslaught from the blast of the whistle in the first chukker.
Having gained two goals already for being handicapped, the Canadians relaxed for their hosts but team Ghana took advantage of that when Eric Gene’s half-gallop saw him drive the ball into the pole to make the scores 2-1.
The home team got the equaliser in the second chukker after a full-gallop run by Eric Gene and Loic Devos made it three for Ghana in a one-two play with Captain Dopoah-Dei.
After the second chukker, fans were allowed to troop onto the field for gimmick-stomping - to stamp on uprooted grass to make the field level.
The home team took control of the game in the third and fourth chukkers, with Loic Devos making it five for the home side.
The Canadians pulled a goal back after a combination between Ramzi Ashkar and Foster saw the former hitting the target.
Veteran midfielder George Agyemang made it six to give the Accra Polo Club their first international win in 12 months.
The match was watched by the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Daniel Arsenault, and the outgoing Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah.
Captain Dopoah-Dei announced that the team would play Uganda on March 22, followed by the Awuah-Darko Cup prior to the end of the polo season.
