FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
JUNE 26 2024
Stella Artois Toasts Equestrian Excellence at the 2024 Zambia Polocrosse Open
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – The 2024 Stella Artois Zambia Polocrosse Open delivered a thrilling display of skill and spirited competition with Basebuild emerging as the victors of the prestigious tournament sponsored by Zambia’s favourite premium beer.
The competition, held at the Leopards Hill Polocrosse Club, brought together top players from Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
“The Stella Artois Zambia Polocrosse Open is a celebration of Zambia’s equestrian sporting talent. We are incredibly proud to be part of the community that continues to support this event, this being the second year of our sponsorship, and look forward to having our National Team at the upcoming World Cup in South Africa,” said Zambian Breweries Director Legal and Corporate Affairs, Tawanda Hojane, reiterating the brewer’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of various sports genres in the country.
The Zambia Polocrosse Association (ZPA) Chairman, Steve Kyriazis described Polocrosse as a unique fast-paced action sport that demands exceptional skill, agility, and teamwork; often leaving spectators in awe of the incredible partnership displayed between a rider and his horse.
“We are grateful to Stella Artois, their sponsorship played a vital role in making the event a success and supporting ZPA’s fundraising efforts for the upcoming World Cup this July,” said Mr Kyriazis.
Zambia boasts an illustrious history in polocrosse, ranking among the world’s elite. In 2015, the Zambian National Team secured a second-place finish at the World Cup, while simultaneously producing the best female player in the world. Their impressive trajectory continued in 2019, with a commendable fourth-place finish at the World Cup held in Warwick, Australia.
With this momentum behind them, the Zambian National Team is setting its sights on achieving even greater heights at the 2024 World Cup in Durban Shongweni, South Africa.
“We are taking a well-balanced team, with both youthful vigour and experience,” said Zambian Polocrosse World Cup Team Manager, Henry Beckett. “The support of brands like Stella Artois has been instrumental in fundraising and ensuring we go to the World Cup fully prepared and ready to win.”
Despite being a small community, Zambia Polocrosse is a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
“Zambia adopted the sport relatively recently,” said World Cup player Lauren Summers. “Countries like Australia have thousands of players, while Zambia has around 50. But we can still compete at the highest level. We have a strong and passionate community that supports us immensely.”
Ms Summers was optimistic of the Team’s ability to deliver stating that: ” We may be small in number, but our hearts are big.”
This year’s Zambia Polocrosse Open lived up to its reputation as the pinnacle of polocrosse in Zambia. The event showcased the sport’s thrilling blend of horsemanship, rapid gameplay, and exceptional stickwork. Spectators enjoyed the refreshing and distinct taste of Stella Artois paired with delectable bites and engaging conversations, amidst the captivating action.
As the sun set, the event transitioned into an unforgettable after-party featuring vibrant beats from four talented DJs in true Stella Artois style.
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About Zambian Breweries
Zambian Breweries Plc is part of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the largest brewer in the world, with more than 500 beer brands and some 200,000 employees in over 50 countries. It is also one of the world’s largest bottlers of soft drinks.
Zambian Breweries was established in Zambia in 1968 and its product range has grown to include clear beers such as Mosi Premium Lager, Mosi Light, Castle, Carling Black Label, Eagle, Stella Artois, and Budweiser.
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