Funsho George has been named Polo Captain of the Lagos Polo Club, taking over leadership of the club’s Polo Management Committee (PMC) after fresh elections at Ribadu Road’s top polo venue.
At a glance
- Funsho George elected Polo Captain of Lagos Polo Club
- PMC leadership includes Omoruyi-Giwa Osagie (Secretary)
- Baba Dantata appointed Training Officer
- Yinka Alakija named Ground Member
- Bowale Jolaoso becomes Disciplinary Member
- Mayo Charles Oluwole takes the role of Trophy Member
- Naomi Durosaro appointed Pony Welfare Member
George will work with Omoruyi-Giwa Osagie as Secretary, Baba Dantata as Training Officer, Yinka Alakija overseeing the ground set-up, and Bowale Jolaoso handling disciplinary matters. Mayo Charles Oluwole is set to manage trophies, while Naomi Durosaro will lead the pony welfare portfolio.
With the club dating back to 1904, Lagos Polo Club is widely regarded as Nigeria’s leading polo institution and among the continent’s longest-running and biggest. Members believe George’s election strengthens the club’s legacy as it aims to retain its position at the top of the national polo landscape.
George joined Lagos Polo Club in 2009 and began instructional chukkas in 2011 under then Polo Captain Mustie Fasinro. He entered his first major tournament in 2012, representing the Decline and Fall team, where he won the Dansa Cup—renamed the Silver Cup—on his debut attempt. He currently carries a handicap of 0 goals.
Speaking after accepting the captaincy, George expressed gratitude to club members for placing their trust in him, and promised to keep Lagos Polo Club operating at the highest level in Nigeria. He said he will treat the role with urgency rather than assume it is automatic, pointing to plans aimed at getting more players spending time on horseback and raising standards of on-field conduct.
He also outlined an intention to strengthen discipline through clear consequences for recorded breaches, framed around global best practice. George noted that any disciplinary framework would be applied in line with the Nigeria Polo Association’s constitution and, by extension, the Hurlingham Polo Association rules.
“As the Captain, I will support the President and Main Committee to uphold the institutional credibility that the Lagos Polo Club is reputed for, while adhering to the Club’s Constitution,” George said. He added that he wants to bring back heritage fixtures such as the Candido Darocha Cup, traditionally contested between Lagos Polo Club and Ibadan Polo Club, along with the X-Men’s Cup, typically contested among senior players.
George further said the PMC will introduce new matchups between Lagos Polo Club and other top teams, with plans that begin with Guards Polo Club Abuja as a pilot. The programme is expected to expand to fixtures against Kano Polo Club and Kaduna Polo Club.
Club experience and past work
Before his election, George served in multiple roles within the club’s Main Committee. His previous responsibilities include a stint as Stables and Surrounds Member from 2014 to 2020.
In describing work during his time across three consecutive administrations, George highlighted one key achievement: helping the club move away from hosting visiting horses within the grounds during international tournaments. He said the club instead arranged off-site facilities with the necessary amenities for guest horses.
George, who also patrons the Lagos GDF polo team, has collected several medium-goal titles at NPA events held in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna. He has also represented Nigeria in international polo, competing in Malaysia and the United States.
In 2024, George captained Lagos Polo Club to a win over Nairobi Polo Club in the first edition of the Simon Koseyo Cup. That triumph came during an invitational polo weekend in Nairobi.
