Ghantoot to mark UAE National Day with polo match

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council is to host a commemorative polo match to celebrate the 41st National Day of the UAE.

The exhibition game, to be held under the patronage of Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, will be part of the UAE Government’s special Sports Calendar, created to mark the historic occasion.

The afternoon will showcase a polo exhibition match between Ghantoot Polo Team and Emirates Polo Team.  Both sides will be made up of three Emirati players as well as one Argentine professional.

Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice-Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club announced that the event would be free to members of the public and encouraged people to attend.

“We are a private club but we have always understood the benefits of engaging with the UAE community,” he said. “On the occasion of the UAE’s 41st birthday, what better way to celebrate than with the excitement of polo - the ‘Game of Kings’ - at the Royal Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club?”

Nasser Al Dhahri, Ghantoot Polo Team captain said: “It is a great honour to take to the field to commemorate this very special day for our country. Equestrianism has always been a part of the UAE’s cultural heritage and that is something that we are very aware of and always pleased to celebrate at Ghantoot.”

Playing alongside Al Dhahri will be Nasser Al Shamsi, Saeed Bin Drai and Nicolas Petrachi. Opposing them will be Abdullah Bin Desmal, Ali Al Merri, Ahmed Al Neaimi and Oscar Colombres.

The National Day Cup will be held on Friday November 30. The gates will open at 2.30pm and members of the public are invited to attend free of charge.