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| March 13, 2006 | Monday | Safar 12, 1427 |
Rivas, Hissam inspire bankers to lift title
LAHORE, March 12: Four goals each by Jose Rivas and Hissam Ali Hyder enabled Bank Alfalah to win the National Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup, beating Sanofi Aventis 11-9 at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Sunday.
Jose and Hissam’s performance eclipsed Dhruvpal Godara’s outstanding performance of scoring eight goals for the losers.
Hissam, who was declared the most valuable player of the country, started the match in a stormy fashion, scoring three as the bankers earned 5-0 lead in the first chukker.
Hissam scored back-to-back field goals, first on solo effort and second off a pass from Rivas. Argentinian Rivas struck his first converting a 60-yard penalty-hit with a lofted shot to make the score 3-0.
Taimur Mawaz Khan contributed a field goal after Hissam initiated a move from the middle.
Hissam got the target to score his third on solo effort to give a perfect start to Bank Alfalah.
Sanofi Aventis recovered in the second chukker reducing the margin 6-3. Godara converted a 30 and 40-yard penalty hit while Raja Samiullah added a field goal.
Rivas pumped in his second goal to increase the lead.
The bankers remained in front 8-5 in the third chukker as both teams struck two goals each. Rivas and Hissam fired home for the winners while never-say-die Godara pumped in back-to-back goals for the losers.
Though Sanofi remained behind throughout the final, they were in position to stage a comeback after the fourth chukker ended at 10-8, as Godara scored three more.
Taimur and Rivas added one more as the bankers kept the upper hand.
In the fifth chukker Faaiz Rahim Khan scored for the bankers while Godara his last goal.
Three-goal Ahmed Ali Tiwana, who was declared as most approving player of the season, helped Diamond Paints beat Green Force 8-6 to claim the third spot.
Guilermo Cuitino (2), Arslan Najeeb (2) and Mir Shoaib Ahmed (1) were the other scorers for the winners.
For Green Force, Mujahid Omar scored three while Khurshid Ahmad, Jota Chavanne and Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana added one goal each.
Eight-goal Diego Araya was declared the most valuable foreign player.
Ahmed Ali Tiwana improved his category from two-goal player to four-goal. Agha Murtaza Ali Khan improved from 0-goal to two-goal while Omar Asjad Malhi from 2 to 0.
Erica owned by Sufi Muhammad Haris and ridden by Araya was declared the best pony. Erica was imported from Argentine.
Risky, a pony from U.K, was the second best. It is owned by Malik Atif Yar Tiwana and ridden by Ahmed Ali Tiwana and Cuitino.
A special prize was given to a pony named Chhotu for completing 10 years of playing polo without any injury or illness. It is owned by Sufi Aamir.
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