It was a weekend of thundering hooves and tactical brilliance at the Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, where the Moi family dynasty cemented its dominance on the turf. In a dramatic doubleheader that defied early tournament predictions, both Sosian Energy and Play With Fitness—teams anchored by Kimoi Moi and Gideon Moi respectively—stormed to victory in their respective divisions.

The wins were not just about lifting silverware; they were a statement of resilience. Both teams overcame stiff competition and punishing weather conditions to secure the Moi Cup (Division One) and the Martin Kesier Memorial Trophy (Division Two), proving that in high-goal polo, strategy often outweighs raw horsepower.

Tactical Shift Secures Moi Cup

The headline clash saw Sosian Energy dismantle the previously unbeaten NCBA side with a decisive 9-5.5 victory. The win was a redemption arc for Sosian, who had started the tournament on shaky ground with a loss to Bioline.

Facing a must-win scenario, team captain Kimoi Moi orchestrated a risky but effective formation change. Recognizing the offensive threat posed by NCBA, Kimoi pulled seasoned heavy hitters Craig Millar and Phyllipa Gulden back to shore up the defense. This allowed Kimoi and the agile Izzy Stichbury to press forward, creating chaos in the NCBA lines.

• Winner: Sosian Energy (6 points, superior goal aggregate of 21).
• Runner-up: NCBA (6 points, goal aggregate of 17.5).
• Key Stat: Sosian’s tactical pivot resulted in a four-goal lead that NCBA could not close.

“We had to change tactics by bringing in Craig Millar and Phyllipa Gulden at the back to defend the title while myself and Izzy Stichbury remained at the front to confuse our opponents,” Kimoi noted after the match. The strategy worked flawlessly, breaking NCBA’s unbeaten streak and securing the trophy on superior goal difference.

Gideon Moi’s Triumphant Return

In the Division Two championship, the spotlight turned to Gideon Moi, who made a thunderous return to competitive polo after a long layoff. Leading the Play With Fitness squad alongside Pete Griffiths, Gideon displayed vintage form, scoring crucial goals and providing assists that dissected the opposition.

Despite a narrow 3-2 loss to Sanlam in an earlier round-robin match, Play With Fitness rallied in their final games. The team, which also featured Tom Manson, overpowered their opponents when it mattered most, accumulating unassailable points to lift the Martin Kesier Memorial Trophy.

“I’m happy to be back with a bang and a formidable win,” Gideon remarked, emphasizing the physical toll of the matches played under the scorching Gilgil sun. His partnership with Griffiths proved too sophisticated for the spirited Johnny Walker and Sanlam teams to dismantle consistently.

Looking Ahead to the Ndume Cup

The dual victories set the stage for a high-octane end to the year at Manyatta. With the Christmas Ndume Cup scheduled for next weekend at the same venue, the rivalry is expected to intensify. Sosian Energy, buoyed by their tactical coup, has already signaled their intent to sweep the December calendar.

“We promise to carry the same spirit this weekend,” Kimoi vowed, warning rivals that the Moi teams are just getting started.