Corporate sponsorship is emerging as a lifeline for Zimbabwe's oldest sporting trophy, with stakeholders saying renewed investment is helping revive polo at a time when the sport is rebuilding after years of declining participation.
The Carnival Cup, first played in 1897, returns this Saturday at Thornpark Polo Grounds under the sponsorship of Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, with organisers saying the partnership goes beyond funding a tournament to preserving one of the country's oldest sporting traditions.
Harare Polo Club captain Matthew Moxon said sponsorship had become critical to the sport's survival and future growth.
"We would like to thank Stanbic Bank for coming on board to sponsor and keep this tournament going. This helps preserve the history and heritage of our sport in Zimbabwe," he said.
According to Moxon, Zimbabwean polo has become smaller than it was four decades ago, but recent years have seen encouraging signs of recovery, particularly at Harare Polo Club.
He said the Carnival Cup was no longer just about competing for one of Zimbabwe's oldest trophies, but had become a platform for developing future national team players and attracting newcomers to the game.
"As a club, one of our main aims is to continue and grow the sport. The Carnival Cup provides an exciting platform to expose new people to polo and that often translates into new people taking up the sport," he said.
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The tournament will feature eight teams competing across four divisions, with organisers expecting some of Zimbabwe's top players to use the competition as preparation for upcoming international assignments.
"The A-Division games are always the main highlight because they feature most of the Zimbabwe team members playing in the international tournament in a few weeks' time, as well as players travelling to Kenya to compete," said Moxon.
He said spectators should also look out for several promising youngsters aged 11 and 12 who will compete in the lower divisions, adding that they represent the future of Zimbabwean polo.
Moxon also identified Murray Whaley as one of the players to watch after dominating several tournaments this season and collecting multiple Most Valuable Player awards.
Stanbic Bank Head of Brand and Marketing Tariro Memo said supporting the Carnival Cup reflects the bank's commitment to investing in communities beyond financial services.
"While it is a fact that Stanbic Bank offers some of the best banking products in Zimbabwe, we have a soft spot for supporting communities through well-thought-out corporate social investment initiatives in health, sanitation, the environment, education and sport, hence our support for the Carnival Cup," she said.
This year's competition will feature teams named after Stanbic Bank products, including Private Banking, Offshore, StanPay, Stanbic Bank Visa Card, Pure Save Account, Africa China Trade, Insurance and Blue247.
Polo remains one of the few sports in which men and women compete on equal terms, while all players use the polo mallet in their right hand regardless of whether they are naturally left- or right-handed.
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