The final match of The KBL Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2012 saw Habtoor Polo walk away with the trophy for the first time ever
The final match of the KBL Dubai Polo Gold Cup tournament, which lasted two weeks and was the most prestigious polo event in the region, saw Habtoor Polo walk away with The KBL Dubai Polo Gold Cup in what was one of the most exciting matches of the season.
Defeating Bin Drai by six goals to five, this was the first time Habtoor Polo, led by Mohammed Al Habtoor, have won the tournament in its total history of three years.
The team, whose level of playing got better and better with each match, were in peak form on the day of the final and they illustrated fantastic ability in what all agreed was a tough match against Bin Drai. The first chukker ended with an even score of 2-2, but in the second, Habtoor Polo started to take control of the game.
By the third chukker, Mohammed Al Habtoor´s team were showing their true colours and scored two goals which increased the difference to three goals on the scoreboard (5-2).
Loathe to accept defeat, Bin Drai gave it their all in the closing minutes of the match. They scored two impressive goals – one by JJ Brane with only 30 seconds to go. But it was Guillermo Cuitiño, the top scorer of the tournament, who secured the victory for Habtoor Polo in the last two seconds of extra time. The final score was 6 goals to 5.
“I am most proud of my team for the way they played today,” commented Mohammed Al Habtoor the patron of the team after the match. “This is the first time we have won the final of the KBL Dubai Polo Gold Cup tournament. It’s something we have been working towards and it’s a good feeling. “
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present at the event and awarded the Gold trophy on the day.
The Subsidiary Cup was won on the same day by the Abu Dhabi team who beat Mahra with a score of 7-5 in another exciting match which saw Abu Dhabi score three goals in the last chukker.