2010 UAE Nations Cup

DESERT PALM NATIONS CUP 2010 CONTINUES ITS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF POLO IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The second UAE Desert Palm Nations Cup in January attracted players from all over the world in teams representing the UAE, Nigeria, the USA and Pakistan for a week of high-quality polo at the Desert Palm Retreat in Dubai. The event, launched last year by world number 1 Adolfo Cambiaso, again boasted several big names including team captains Ali Albwardy, (UAE),  Prince Albert Esiri (Nigeria),  Alan Meeker (USA) and Muhammad Asif Hafiz (Pakistan) The knowledgeable crowds relished some outstanding play, particularly from the Argentine Matias Machado, representing Pakistan, who proved the tournament's leading player and for America, the Costa Rican Alan Martinez, a 7-goaler based in Aiken, South Carolina.

The matches, with all the teams competing on ponies from the Desert Palm Polo Club, were hard-fought but played in a tremendous spirit of camaraderie, as a celebration of Middle East polo. In the cliff-hanger of the week, Pakistan, trailing the UAE by 4 goals going into the last chukka, fought back superbly to level the match within a minute of the final whistle. With nerves jangling and explosive play from both sides, UAE number 1 Rashid Bin Drai coolly slotted in the winner seconds from time to guarantee his side a place in the final against the USA. Here too, Ali Albwardy's side's teamwork and will-to-win proved decisive and they squeaked past the Americans 8-6, to retain the championship they won last year, finishing in style with a clean sweep of victories.

Competitors, VIP guests and sponsors alike came prepared to party and relished the traditionally generous Dubai hospitality at a string of glittering dinners and drink parties, several hosted by the Duke of Argyll, representing sponsors Royal Salute, the luxury whisky brand first launched in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. His Grace, laird of spectacular Inverary Castle, captain of Scotland's elephant polo team, and an enthusiastic spectator of the horseback variety, was full of praise for the event's welcoming atmosphere.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of the UAE ruling family, awarded the trophy to the victorious Emirates side, then Julien Renard, of sponsors Jaeger leCoultre made a special presentation to Muhammad Asif Hafiz of Pakistan and Alan Meeker of the USA, recognising them as official Brand Ambassadors for Polo in the Middle East.