Event Review: My First Time Experience at the Lagos Polo Tournament

It was my first time at the Lagos Polo Tournament. I’m one of those who like the game even though I do not know so much about the game. I met a celebrity and decided to have a little chat with him to learn about the game. It obviously wasn’t his first time at the event so I thought to strike a conversation about the game.. I got a shocking response.
Me: I don’t know much about the game. Do you?
Him: Don’t bother yourself much. You know in football we have humans chasing the ball. In Polo it is just horses chasing the ball. I laughed hard .

The event took place on a Sunday.. no traffic heading to the lsland.. but the moment I drove into the street leading to the Polo club, the struggle started. Area boys saddled with the task to get parking space for guests. So this guy knocked on my window and said “aunty you wan park.”? I said ‘yes’. Then he told me to follow him. I kept on driving all the way into the street. I parked in the space I figured was his then I heard ” aunty your money na three thousand naira” me looking very dazed, said “ahan for what na.. just to park?.”. Then we started negotiating the price. That negotiation took about 15 minutes. I definitely wasn’t going to pay 3000 and I wasn’t going to leave that space. Not after all the stress. After a while we settled at N1000 and he left me.
So one lesson I learnt was you have to arrive early so you don’t go through the stress of parking except you have a driver.

Now Polo is a very expensive game and I had the opportunity to chat with one of the players after the game. I was shocked when he said a horse costs as much as N50m and the horses are imported into the country. He also spoke about his love for the game and how he’s beginning to notice his 5year old son’s interest in the game.

So, the Polo Tournament gave me an opportunity to mingle with a few celebrities. One of the best moments was with Swanky Jerry, the celebrity fashion designer. Apparently while I struggling to fit my car in between two cars I didn’t know that there was someone in one of the cars.. after parking, the person wound down and said “mehn I can’t drive the way you just did.. i was just watching to see if you could do it. You did well.” I laughed and said thank you”. I didn’t even know they guy was Swanky Jerry not until I saw him at the Rose Garden in the Polo Club I went on an had a chat a with him. He was down to earth, funny and friendly. He wasn’t even forming.

One mistake never to be made is going to the Polo Tournament alone. It is one of the biggest mistake to make as a first timer. .. Go with someone.

I had a hard time making new friends at the tournament.. it was my first time and I just wanted to behave and not over step my boundaries or embarrass myself in anyway. Everyone looked classy and posh. I had to form in my own little way lol.

As God would have it, I met someone I know and then the gist started. At this time.. the game was over. Boredom disappeared immediately the DJ started playing. We also had two Nigerian artistes who performed at the event.

My friend and I didn’t leave until some minutes past 10pm.

I had a good time at the event.