UAE Polo and IFZA Habtoor Polo Set to Face Off in IFZA Gold Cup 2023 Dubai Open Finale
Dubai, UAE:
The IFZA Gold Cup 2023 Semi Final was a showdown between the top four teams of the season.
The highlight of the afternoon was the much-awaited match between UAE Polo and AM Polo, which began with an opening goal by Isidro Strada. UAE Polo quickly took control of the game, ending the second chukker with a 4-goal lead. The UAE team players in white extended 2 more goals in the third, with Strada and Bejamin Urquiza each scoring one goal each for AM Polo, with the score of 7 goals to 3 by halftime. In the penultimate chukker, it was Tommy Beresford and Lucas Monteverde Jr., each scoring one goals for the UAE Polo. The AM polo managed to squeeze in two goals over the last chukker but fell short, and the IFZA Silver Cup 2023 winners marched their way through the finals with a final score of 10 goals to 5.
Match Progression:
2 – 1 | 5 – 1 | 7 – 3 | 9 – 3 | 10 – 5
Top Scorer: Tommy Beresford – 9 goals
The last spot for the chance at the most coveted trophy of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series was a match between IFZA Habtoor Polo and Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo teams. The first chukker saw three goals by the IFZA Habtoor Polo, and one goal by Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo. Both teams displayed defensive and impressive polo skills, particularly from IFZA Habtoor Polo's number two and three players, Matthew Perry and Bautista Bayugar, who helped advance their team to a 2-goal lead. Ignacio Negri brought his team closer by scoring two goals, but the IFZA Habtoor Polo team was still leading with 7 goals to 5 at halftime, with Mohammed Al Habtoor scoring one goal for the team. In the last chukker, Federico Von Potobsky managed to tie the game at 8 goals, making it an intense final minutes. However, it was Bautista Bayugar who made the last hit of the game with a long shot goal, quickly turning things around and securing a victory for IFZA Habtoor Polo with 9 goals to 8. This win has taken the team to the finals of the IFZA Gold Cup 2023.
Match Progression:
3 – 1 | 6 – 3 | 7 – 5 | 8 – 5 | 9 – 8
Top Scorer: Matthew Perry – 4 goals
The IFZA Gold Cup 2023 Finale is on the 4th of March, at Al Habtoor Polo Club:
13:30 | Bentley Subsidiary Final: Ghantoot Polo vs. Dubai Wolves by CAFU| Field 1
16:00 | IFZA Gold Cup Final: UAE Polo vs. IFZA Habtoor Polo | Field 1
MAIN SPONSOR
Bentley Emirates
Bentley Emirates, the largest Bentley Dealer in the world is the. As part of the Prestige Cars Division of Al Habtoor Motors, Bentley Emirates have been the sole authorized importer of Bentley motor cars in the UAE since 1982. Driven by professionalism, quality and high standards, Bentley Emirates continues to serve with utmost confidence and is poised to scale even greater heights.
Bentley Emirates is set to open the doors to its new state of the art showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road the 2nd quarter of this year. This exciting development will be the first of its kind of automobile showroom experience where customers will not only come to see the range of vehicles but as well experience the World of Bentley. Al Habtoor Motors also recently opened the world’s first Bentley Cafe & Boutique in heart of Dubai Marina on the ground floor of Al Habtoor Business Tower. It provides a perfect venue to mirror the elements that make up Bentley's DNA, which has both contemporary and classic elements.
About Al Habtoor Motors - Prestige Cars Division
Part of the well-established, Dubai based business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, the Prestige Cars Division is the official dealer of some of the world's coveted marques namely Bentley, Bugatti and McLaren in the UAE.
Website: www.dubai.bentleymotors.com
CO-SPONSORS
MAK Engineering Consultancy
MAK Engineering Consultancy is a professional engineering consulting firm, established in 2014 in Dubai, UAE, with an unlimited license, to provide engineering design services for the various market sectors, including industrial manufacturing, corporate owned facilities, educational, hospitality, health care and development services.
Website: www.mak-consultant.com
Diamond Lease:
Diamondlease L.L.C, a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental and leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate and Individual customers in the UAE. Diamond lease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements.
Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999. In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003. Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.
Website: www.diamondlease.com
Total EM
TOTAL Electrical & Mechanical LLC. are legends in Industrial Electrification. They deliver projects with integrity and commitment, ensuring high standards of safety and quality. TOTAL Electrical & Mechanical LLC. is a name to reckon with in the field of power system services like high & low voltage, and low current systems. A strong customer focused approach and the quest for top-class quality have enabled them to attain and retain the leadership position of being the best construction service provider in the UAE.
Website: https://www.totalem.org/
Hildon Water:
Hildon is an English Natural Mineral Water which lies deep within the chalk hills of Hampshire, as a result it is of the highest quality. Bottled at its source on the Hildon Estate in Hampshire and Imported from the UK, it is distributed exclusively by Top Shelf Beverages in the region, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016.
Website: www.hildon.com
MEDIA PARTNERS
Polo Line TV:
PLTV is the first online streaming polo site, broadcasting over 25 tournaments LIVE per year around the globe, reaching +200k viewers. The production and edition of exclusive content makes PLTV the most comprehensive polo channel in the world.
Website: www.pololine.tv/
Al Badia:
Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact, it is a tribute to the age-old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.
Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines. Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.
Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.
Website: www.albadiamagazine.com/
Sport360:
Founded in 2010, Sport360 is a premier digital publisher and sports consultancy in the Middle East and Nnorth Africa. Initially launched as a newspaper in the UAE, the brand also quickly established itself in the digital realm by creative innovative online platforms that have attracted more than 10 million followers.
Sport360 has launched an in-house, content-marketing studio in response to an increasing client demand for unique and inspiring content. We help brands have a deeper engagement with their target audience and provide the opportunity for clients to tell their story to the Sport360 audience in an authentic and creative way. In addition, Sport360 has an events division catering to the diverse consumer and business segments in the Middle East. Some of these events include the Sports Industry Awards (SPIA) to recognise and reward excellence, plus mass-participation events including the Beach Run Series.
Website: http://www.sport360x.com/
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.
Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.
Website: www.dsc.ae
UAE Polo Federation
The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body of the sport of polo in the United Arab Emirates. The association has been organized to promote the game of polo with the goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its affiliated clubs and registered players and providing rules, handicaps and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, including the safety of participants.
Website: www.uaepolofederation.com/
