By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

ZAMBIA this weekend face off with Zimbabwe in a rare international Polo tournament dubbed MGen Men’s International Polo Championship at Lilayi Polo Club in Lusaka.
The tournament, which is annually sponsored by Madison General Insurance, will see Zambia come up with two teams that will face the Zimbabwean side this afternoon and tomorrow morning.
The Zambian sides have taken up names of two exciting products of Madison General in Madison Agripack and Madison Motor, respectively.
This afternoon, the Andrew Kirby-led Madison Agripack team go onto the battle field against a determined Zimbabwe side captained by David Meikle who is a plus four handicap player.
Kirby is an immensely exposed player who has played the game in Argentina, the United States of America, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand and is a forward player.
But goals should be guaranteed more from Mark Coventry, a Mazabuka player who averages four goals a game and should relish another chance to make a grade for Zambia with the most exciting character in Eric Stubbs providing the excitement, goals and solidity to the team.
Perhaps the best hope for Zambia lie in Ian Robinson, a plus four handicap player, who has played the game on four continents including the polo headquarters, Argentina in South America and is currently in Mazabuka.
Zimbabwe on the other hand will have team captain to show why they have remained a formidable opponent for Zambia with team captain Meikle having a lot of experience to bank on in his team.
The Zimbabweans are also brandishing Johnny Campbell, a plus three handicap, who has rode the horse and scoring goals for about 40 years and seen the game take him to all five continents and is hailed for his dynamism and hard work on the field.
There is also Chris Aitchison, who has played Polo on three continents in Australia, North America and Africa and boasts a plus two handicap with more cover from Corey Meikle, who is a two goaler with three international caps and got his first international call-up at 18 years.
Tomorrow, Zambia will also have the Madison Motor revving things up and has in its line three players who average three goals a game and one on four.
Rob Coventry, Andrew Taylor and Billy Miller are three goaler while Kevin Coventry has a higher handicap on four and will have to keep up to their high billing to starve off the Zimbabwe challenge and with such high ratings, the tournament surely promises a lot of goals.