The Land Rover Africa Cup returns to the prestigious Inanda Club, situated in the heart of Sandton. The Land Rover Africa Cup, a unique knockout polo championship, offers an action-packed day for polo lovers, which will include a display of exceptional horsemanship.
The 2015 event included participation by teams from Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya as well as several South African teams. More than 3,000 people witnessed the closely contested and fast paced final where the South African Land Rover team beat the Imlingo team, also from South Africa, to win the coveted Land Rover Africa Cup trophy.
The 2016 tournament, which will take place on 18 September, will feature some of Africa’s top polo players & teams up against their South African counterparts in an enthralling weekend of polo.
“Hugely successful in previous years, the Land Rover Africa Cup continues to provide a platform for exciting and dynamic polo action. We are continuing to grow and expand this tournament into one of the biggest Polo Tournaments on the Continent”, says Paul Oosthuizen, Inanda Club General Manager.
“The Annual Land Rover Africa Cup is a glamorous event, quintessentially polo and complements our vehicles perfectly. To that end it provides us with the ideal opportunity to showcase the New Range Rover Evoque Convertible ahead of its local launch and in it’s natural habitat – amongst the luxurious Inanda setting,” comments Lisa Mallett, Marketing Director, Jaguar Land Rover and sub-Sahara Africa.
Land Rover, the title sponsor, together with the City of Johannesburg the host city partner, invite polo enthusiasts to savor a mix of sportsmanship with a blend of luxury design and VIP experiences. The City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Councillor Ruby Mathang, says 2016 marks the sixth consecutive year that Joburg Tourism and the City have supported this event.
“As the City, each initiative we put our weight behind needs to benefit all residents and the developmental aspect of this tournament addresses just that,” says MMC Mathang. He says over the years the Polo Development Programme has created several opportunities for talented but underprivileged players to participate in a sport that is considerably expensive and flourish as true professionals. “Inanda Club has made considerable gains in driving this transformation to make polo more accessible to the broader public,” says MMC Mathang.
The 2016 tournament is set to offer some of the best polo in the African equestrian calendar. The highlights of the day include fabulous fashions; entertainment and an extensive list of celebrities in attendance; a showcase by Airbus Helicopters, and the exciting Horse vs Machine Race. This year, the race will witness the New Range Rover Evoque Convertible up against the best thoroughbred of the tournament.
The theme this year is ‘Quintessential Polo – Above & Beyond’, inspired by the Range Rover Evoque it resonates the quality, class and a lifestyle appreciated by polo enthusiasts.
Fashion aficionados will enjoy a carefully curated experience as they gather on the scenic Inanda clubhouse terraces to witness quintessential spring trends created by top African fashion designers.
Corporate hospitality packages include a variety of privately owned suites where spectators have the option of reveling in the action from the edge of the pitch or appreciating the towering view from the top floor of the Inanda Club House.