Polo for many people has been a sport of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. It has extensively been limited to a particular sect of society and has with time also made-belief people about it in a concentric manner. But while some of us characterize the sport that way. Some communities work at making a difference. And with one such community, LA POLO sets in an interview. People associated with Polo in Africa united in a conversation with LA POLO and exemplifies how they are working at projecting Polo with a whole new edge and lens. Their African Polo Open is one such attempt. In this interview find out a whole new picture of Polo that people from Polo in Africa wish to establish. Herein, Kgomotso Molosiwa meets the quest:
LA POLO: How would you define the legacy of Polo in Africa?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: The legacy of polo has been presented and marred as a sport that is reserved for the few and a colonial British sport. Only recently Africa Polo Open is decoding and retelling the story and history of polo in Africa through a different lens. The Africa Polo Open also takes charge of writing the polo story going forward.
LA POLO: African Polo Open is considered to be one of the grandest polo events in the continent, how effectively has it broadened the horizon of the sport for the people?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa:: By putting emphasis on educating people about the actual game in an approachable and non-threatening way, as people learn more about the sport through African eyes, they see themselves in it in the imagery, the interesting African facts relating to polo in Africa and the link of the sport with Africa. This has broadened the sport for the people.
LA POLO: How would you define the legacy of Polo in Africa?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: The legacy of polo has been presented and marred as a sport that is reserved for the few and a colonial British sport. Only recently Africa Polo Open is decoding and retelling the story and history of polo in Africa through a different lens. The Africa Polo Open also takes charge of writing the polo story going forward.
LA POLO: Africa has given some of the major polo players and polo influencers to the world, how would you throw a light upon it?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa::There are certainly great polo players and polo influencers like Neku Atawodi-Edun from Nigeria who is also a country director for Meltwater entrepreneurial school of technology and a professional polo player who inspires potential young female polo players in the polo world. Bello Buba both from Nigeria, Tom Debruin, and Dirk Van Reenen from South Africa are some of the players that Africa offers.
LA POLO: It is claimed that Africa Polo Open has made polo it's own. How exactly did it all start? What has been the history behind it and who were the people?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: Africa Polo Open has certainly made the tournament purely about polo in Africa. Africa Polo Open is the only continental cup and it pits South Africa against other polo-playing Africa. For the past three years, South Africa has played Kenya in 2017, Nigeria in 2018, and this year in Zambia. The journey started in 2015 when we learned that there has never been an African continental match. The result was the first continental match being played in 2017. We tell African stories of education and different perspective of heritage through the sport. The Africa Polo Open is the brainchild of Masedi & Kgomotso Molosiwa of Mr. Concierge who are passionate about the content and its. They are the proprietors of the Africa Polo Open.
LA POLO: How do you see the growth of the sport in the continent?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: The sport is growing fast with more people getting involved not as spectators but as potential players and supporting the big ecosystem of the sport as pony owners, land owners, grooms, etc. There is also starting to be an increase in interest in investing exposure to the youth.
LA POLO: How well have the people of Africa welcomed the sport of Polo?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: One must remember that the sport has been in Africa for over 100 years, with the first recorded game in South Africa being played in 1874 and in Nigeria in 1904. However, we are simply breathing new air into the sport and telling the story and journey of polo that has not been told. With this, there is a renewed love for the game because the story resonates with African people.
LA POLO: Futuristic-ally, how do you picture the game?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: I picture the game growing extensively with more countries in the continent playing. I see in the short term a continent league where the tournament is played across different jurisdictions in Africa. Polo will be a platform that will build the trust fiber between African countries, and grow the economy through tourism, and business persons using the sport to meet and discuss investing across the continent.
LA POLO: If talking about popularity, why do you think Polo lacks the popular choice?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: I believe part of it is because of how it is packaged. It is either packaged as a place for celebrities branded alcoholic brands or as a British sport. The tide is turning where Africa Polo Open presents it as a sport with depth, for a discerning person and a distinctly African polo experience.
LA POLO: What should people watch out for in Polo in Africa?
POLO IN AFRICA | Kgomotso Molosiwa: The opening match will feature a mixed team of polo players across the continent. The music is purely African and the energy is distinctly African! Pure magical polo, warm passionate people of Africa, businesspeople from across Africa, and family enjoying and bonding picnic under the beautiful African sun.
