The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Art Hotel

  • Lagos STL, Art Hotel, Shoreline shine at Lagos Int’l Polo Tournament

    Lagos STL, Art Hotel, Shoreline shine at Lagos Int’l Polo Tournament

    The opening week of the ongoing Lagos International Polo Tournament  has seen  the crowning glory of three Lagos-based teams  as the  event moves to higher gears this  week  with the highly sought-after Majekodunmi Cup .

    Lagos Art Hotel, Lagos STL and Lagos Shoreline/ A1 swept through the crowded opening week to  respectively earn the Chapel Hill Denham Cup, the Adedapo Ojora Cup and the Oba of Lagos Cup.

    The Seyi Tinubu-powered STL opened the flood gate for the homers as they  overcame  arch rival, Lagos Shoreline/A1 in keenly contested encounter  to clinch the Adedapo Ojora  with a thrilling 10-5 scores over  five chukkas.

    STL parading Yasin Amusan, Alfie Hyde, Chris Makenzie and Tayo Ojora jumped to the driving seat of the final game and remained ahead till the final chukka of the game despite spirited fight back by the quartet of A1/ Shoreline complete  with Olumide Agboola, Sule Musa, Isa Kwame and Manuel Crespo.

    Tayo, who received the trophy named after his father during the prize presentation ceremony, praised commitment of his teammates to  win the cup that is very close to his heart and the entire Ojora family for obvious reasons.

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    In a related development, A1 Shoreline  bounced into reckoning by clinching the traditional Oba of Lagos Cup with a 8-5  score line over  visiting Wilttten Aviation from Port Harcourt before  a capacity crowd  that included the full complement of the Lagos Traditional Council from the Oba’s Palace.

    The opening week of the tournament was concluded on  Sunday, when Art Hotel Polo Team came from 2-6 goals deficit in the third chukka of the final, to edge hot favourites STL 13-12 to clinch their first Chapel Hill Denham Cup title.

    Art Hotel team featuring Baba Dantata, Folarin Kuku, Segundo Liorente and Bauti Panelo started the Chapel Hill Denham Cup final on a shaky note with a four goal-deficit  and two chukkas left to play, the duo of Segundo and Panelo who was plying his first tournament in Africa, propelled  Kuku and Dantata to turn the game on  its head  to  gift the Art Hotel their biggest victory Lagos polo tournament.

    Meanwhile, the  Lagos international polo tournament that galloped off January 27 at the foremost Ribadu Polo Ground in Ikoyi, enters its second week with the  highly reverred Majekodunmi Cup.

    Other glittering high-goal Cups to be won during the second week are the Sani Dangote Cup played in the everlasting memory of the late President of Lagos Polo Club, one of Nigeria’s biggest polo Patrons.

    The list includes the newly introduced Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, Owen Cup and the oldest polo laurel in Nigeria, the Independence Cup.

    Polo Pix Caption: Art Hotel polo team   and  Lagos STL team (sitting) showcasing their prizes during the closing ceremony of the opening week of the Lagos International Polo tournament.

  • Art Hotel unveils ‘killer’ squad ahead of   Lagos Polo season

    Art Hotel unveils ‘killer’ squad ahead of   Lagos Polo season

    The Art Hotel Polo Team has officially unveiled its squad for the 2026 Lagos Polo Season, setting the tone for a competitive campaign at the Lagos Polo International Tournament (LIPT) and the MP Lagos International Polo Tournament.

    The unveiling ceremony was held on Monday, January 26, in the presence of players, sponsors, patrons and members of the polo community at the at The Art Hotel, Lagos.

    Introducing members of  the team, captain Mohammed Sani Dangote, a two-goal player and Group Chief Executive Officer of DANSA Holdings, expressed optimism about the quality and balance of the squad selected for the Open Cup.

     “We’re excited to have a strong lineup for the Open Cup this year,” Dangote said. “I’m a two-goal player, we have Segundo Llorente, a five-goal player who has won with us before, Baba Dantata who is a two-goal player and Bautista Panelo, a four-goal player from Argentina who is playing in Nigeria for the first time.”

    Dangote added that the team is targeting silverware in the 2026 season.

     “It’s going to be an exciting tournament. We believe this year is ours for the taking, and this will be the beginning of many trophies to come,” he said.

    Speaking on expectations for the Art Hotel Polo Team and the tournament at large, Dangote, who also captains Lagos Polo Club, highlighted the pedigree and winning mentality within the squad.

     “You can expect us to fight to the finish. We have serial winners on this team,” he said. “Segundo has won titles at club level and with Argentina across the world. Baba Dantata has more trophies and MVP awards than many people his age, and Bautista Panelo is also a serial winner.”

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    He further explained the structure of the Lagos Polo International Tournament, noting that the team will compete in the Open Cup, a 10-goal  to 12-goal category designed to blend local and international talent.

     “The Open Cup encourages quality and balance. If you don’t have foreign professionals in that category, you have little chance of winning,” Dangote said. “We believe we have the right combination of experience, talent and attitude.”

    Returning Argentine international Segundo Fernandez Llorente, a five-goal handicap player, expressed his excitement about playing again in Nigeria and stressed the importance of respect for all opponents.

     “It’s great to be back in Lagos,” Llorente said. “Every team in the Open Cup is strong, so we have to respect them all. Our focus is to play each game seriously and perform as a unit.”

    First-time Nigeria visitor Bautista Panelo, a four-goal Argentine player, shared his impressions of Nigerian polo and what fans should expect from him.

     “Nigerian polo is very physical and competitive,” Panelo said. “I’m a committed player, very competitive, and I like to play attacking polo from midfield while helping my teammates perform better.”

    Panelo also praised the hospitality and playing conditions in Lagos.

     “This is my first time in Africa, and I’m enjoying Nigeria so far. The people are kind, the training sessions have been enjoyable, and the horses feel comfortable on the field,” he added.

    Two-goal player Ahmad Baba Dantata described the experience of playing alongside seasoned international professionals as invaluable.

     “The experience and knowledge they bring to the team is massive,” Dantata said. “Even outside training and matches, the conversations alone are a big takeaway. We’ll give everything to make sure we win this year.”

    Chairman of The Art Hotel, Habib Oniru, reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to polo, describing the partnership as a strong synergy between sport and lifestyle.

     “Polo represents teamwork, strong mind-set and entertainment, which aligns with our brand,” Oniru said. “This is our fifth year supporting polo, and we believe in building long-term relationships with the club.”

    Oniru added that the partnership has helped strengthen brand visibility and engagement.

     “Polo is a prestigious sport and fits perfectly with our hospitality offering. We’re looking forward to a fascinating and electrifying 2026 season,” he said.

    With a blend of international stars and experienced local players, the Art Hotel Polo Team will be aiming to make a strong impact in the Open Cup category as the 2026 Lagos Polo Season gets underway.