SENTEBALE TEAM WINS POLO TOURNAMENT
The second event of its kind to be held in the USA, it was a round robin tournament involving three teams and twelve polo players. The closely fought contest saw the Sentebale ISPS Handa win with six points, followed by the Royal Salute team with three. Sentebale ISPS Handa team captained by Prince Harry team took home the trophy – presented by guest of honor His Grace Torquhil Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll.
Distinguished guests from the world of sport and entertainment included Jodie Kidd and George the Poet, who watched as Prince Harry and Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick competed on the Handa team for the trophy cup. Sentebale ambassador Nacho Figueras competed on the Royal Salute team.
Following the tournament Sophie Gallois, Global Marketing Director of Chivas Brothers, announced Royal Salute will take its commitment of Sentebale beyond the polo field by directly supporting the Sentebale Care Giver Initiative. This program offers guidance to the carer givers of children living with HIV – often parents and grandparents – providing essential education and skills enabling them to support the youth and combating the myths and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
The money and awareness raised from the Polo Cup will go towards sending 1,500 children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years old to Sentebale’s monthly clubs and five-day residential camp at the newly opened ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre. If children with HIV are educated about the virus, they not only learn about their condition but also can educate their peers about the disease, enlightening a generation and leading the way to ending the AIDS epidemic.
Speaking at the post-tournament dinner held in the spectacular stables of Valiente Polo Farm Prince Harry said “the Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho which we opened last year, would not have been built without the generosity of Sentebale and its partners. Particularly the Sentebale Polo Cup. This year we will expand our camp programme into Botswana, a country I have been visiting regularly for almost two decades and genuinely feel I need to give as much back as I can.” He announced George Mpanga, also known as George the Poet, a critically acclaimed recording artist and social commentator as the newest Sentebale Ambassador.
Cathy Ferrier, CEO of Sentebale said “The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We are humbled that this year, Royal Salute has taken that commitment further by supporting our Care Givers in Lesotho who look after those children living with HIV. These family members play a pivotal role in ensuring children living with HIV receive the medication and care they need to lead healthy lives.”
The Sentebale Polo Cup is in its seventh year, and for the past six years Royal Salute has been the title sponsor. ISPS Handa, Valiente Polo Farm, American Airlines, USPA and Merchant Hub have been kind sponsors of this year’s event.
Royal Salute is a proud supporter of polo, the oldest team sport in the world, supporting over 18 international polo events across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.
MAKE A DONATION TO SENTEBALE:
By donating $20 you can pay for camper kit and toiletries for a child living with HIV, attending Sentebale’s five day residential camp at the newly built ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre.
US Taxpayers can make tax-deductible donations to American Friends of Sentebale, a registered 501(c) (3) charity via the following link: https://www.paypal.me/SentebaleAFOS
