Everything is set for the much expected semifinals of one of the most important tournaments of the year, the Gold Cup for the British Open. On Wednesday July 17, four teams will fight, looking for the two tickets to the championship match, in pursue of Cowdray Park Polo Club’s coveted golden trophy, played since 1956. The four squads are Park Place, VS King Power, Dubai and Scone.
Juan Britos and Bartolomé Castagnola Jr., two of the youngest and more powerful players or the current British high goal season, are two of the lucky ones who will play the semis. Of the members of the current lineup, Juano have remained within Andrey Borodin’s Park Place the most, while Barto is one of the biggest emerging superstars of the sport along with his brother, Camilo, and their skills have provided Ali Albwardy’s Dubai a fantastic comeback in British high goal polo.
As a preview of the upcoming semifinals, the two of them spoke to PoloLine about their expectations.
Aming other comments, Juan Britos stated:
“I am very thankful to the team, it is a great organisation. I am very happy.”
“The match against Emlor was open, but very tough as well. We put a lot of pressure, we managed to hold all the backhanders, but they did happen to do the same and certainly, better than us. So we had to change the strategy in the last two chukkas. Emlor is a great team, they played really well thoroghout the whole season.”
“The result (they beat Emlor 9-8) has been a big team effort; it is not easy at all to battle back a five goal gap. But I have the best team mates, so we had to remain calm and give our best”.
“It’s the first time I will be playing the semifinals of the Gold Cup, so I am very anxious, happy and proud of this team. And happy for myself, as well. I would like to embrace my whole family in Argentina, because they supported me thoroghout my whole career. I am here thanks to them.”
Barto Castagnola
“I am very happy. This is the first time I play the Gold Cup and we are through the semifinals. The match against La Indiana was terrible, very very tough, very leveled, but fortunately we could make it.”
“The winning goal? I didn’t think about that, trust me. I only knew I had to pick the ball and keep it to myself. Either I win or lose. Finally, it was Jeta (his brother Camilo’s nickname) who scored a fantastic goal.”
The semifinals of the Gold Cup are due on Wednesday July 17, with the following order of play and venue:
12pm: Park Place vs. VS King Power (L1)
4pm: Scone vs. Dubai (L1)
WATCH THE INTERVIEWS (POLOLINE TV)