Polo in Egypt Sports of Kings and the Kings
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POLO IN EGYPT SPORT OF KINGS AND THE KINGS OF THE SPORT By Bridget McArdle McKinney witnessed townsmen in a dusty square in high altitude Ladakh on the Indo- Tibetan border play this very game, which they called “ta pulu” – horse ball. While several variants exist, the game is played on a field 300 yards in length and 160 yards in width, by two teams of 4 players each, timed in six 7 minute periods or “chukkas”. Each player has a role, whether defensive, offensive, or tactical, and in competitive polo each player has a ranking or “handicap”, which is assessed with reference not only to the player’s goals or skills, but also to the player’s teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship. The rankings range from minus 2 to plus 10, but a ranking of plus 2 is considered very good in this difficult sport. As mentioned, polo has a long history in Egypt dating back more than eight centuries. In more modern times, the sport was organised originally through Marwan Mostafa the Khedival Sporting Club, now the Gezira Sporting Club. Polo matches THE PONIES trot OUT to China during the Tang Dynasty (7th were established in the first days of century AD) and west to Byzantium, the Sporting Club, perhaps as early onto THE FIELD, THE arriving in Egypt during the Ayyubid as the late 1880’s and the polo season spectators draw period (12th century AD). became an international society to THE RAILS, THE essential, the place to “see and be Then, as now, the sport carried a seen”. anticipation builds, combative air and, truly, to watch the AND WHEN THE BALL sport today there can be no doubt Egyptian polo greats of the past IS rolled OUT FOR of its military beginnings. But polo included Saifalla Pasha Yousri in the also has its softer side. The sport 1920’s, Victor Smeika in the 1940’s, THE FIRST CHUKKA, has been celebrated throughout its Salah Foda in the 1950’s and the THE action BEGINS. history in poetry, pottery, painting, legendary Alex Ebeid who won the and song. The 12th century polymath Coupe D’Or of Deauville seven times THE EXCITEMENT OF poet, astronomer, mathematician and and the UK Queen’s Cup twice. THE sport, THE power natural scientist Omar Khayyam used OF THE PONIES, THE polo to illustrate divine command and Today, polo in Egypt is governed by fate in this quatrain from his famous the Egyptian Polo Federation, headed athleticism OF THE Rubaiyat: by businessman and long-time polo players AND THE RISK player and polo advocate, Farouk OF danger COMBINE ‘In the cosmic game of polo you are Younes, whose private Abu Sir Polo the ball Farm is host to matches, polo clinics, to MAKE POLO ONE OF The mallet’s left and right becomes and weekend practice sessions. The THE MOST THRILLING OF your call Federation, itself a member of the He who causes your movements, your Federation of International Polo, the equine sports, THE rise and fall world governing body of the sport, Sport OF KINGS. He is the one, the only one, who knows arranges local and international it all.’ matches and clinics in Cairo and Alexandria; it arranges, as well, the The origins of polo are debated. The name itself, polo, comes from participation of Egyptian polo clubs in Most historians of the sport, however, the Tibetan word ‘pulu’, or ball, and, matches abroad. consider that the game was first indeed, it was with surprise and actively played as a cavalry exercise great breathless amusement that According to Karim Loza, Member in Persia as early as the 6th century my husband and I a few years ago of the Board of the Egyptian Polo BC, migrating with conquest both east 44 Federation and Regional Ambassador Sir field, I met two of these top players: named El Sewedy Polo Team. Finally, I of the Federation of International Polo, Marwan Mostafa of the Police Team would like to thank the president of the the Federation not only encourages and Aly Kashef of the Gezira Sporting Egyptian Polo Federation, Mr. Farouk the public to enjoy the beauty of the Club. Younis for his efforts in organising sport as spectators, but, as importantly the tournaments and clinics and we for the maintenance and longevity of Marwan has been playing for 10 years players look forward to more”. the sport, encourages junior riders and says, “Polo is the best thing in my to begin, develop, and grow into the life. I began my life as a show jumper; Aly, a pilot for Egypt Air, says that sport. Just this past December, for my father was a general in the Egyptian polo is in his blood, a sport passed example, a group of junior Egyptian Police Cavalry and was my first trainer from grandfather to father to son, a players travelled to Jaipur for a polo as a horse back rider. Once I saw a polo comment I hear time and time again clinic to learn the techniques of India’s match I knew that this was the sport I from players. From a pilot who flies famous 61st Cavalry Regiment. had to practice forever as this is a team the world it was interesting to hear sport, which is much more interesting Aly quote Winston Churchill’s view Federation clubs in Cairo, the Gezira for me than a single player sport. Since that a polo mallet is the passport to Sporting Club and the Egyptian then I was addicted to polo. I travelled the world. He adds philosophically, “I Mounted Police, and in Alexandria, to many countries representing Egypt would like to be the best polo player Alexandria Sporting Club and Smouha either with the national team or with but if I think that I have reached the Sporting Club, have polo teams of high the Police Team - which won the best top I’ll stop training and become over calibre. The long polo season, lasting polo team in Egypt - and we won many confident and then, you’re not the best from September to June, compared to tournaments in Nigeria, Ghana, India, player again.” the relatively short European season, USA, and Scotland. As for the people allows much more time and access who have influenced my polo career, “I love horses and I love football, to practice and perfect technique and one important one was Rege Ludwig, so it’s a combination of both. In any train up young ponies as well as young who left a special mark on me during country under any rules, I get the players to competitive level. his visits to Egypt as a trainer. I wish same satisfaction – horse and man”, to see polo as the best sport in Egypt says Aly. Well said all. The best polo players in Egypt carry with wider spread and more teams. a plus two handicap. On a beautiful We have actually begun to build a Thanks for Mohmaed El Sewedy for] Friday morning recently at Younes’ Abu new team in the company I work for [the polo action photos Aly Kashef 45.