The Royal Selangor Polo Club has now taken it to the next stage, with the RSPC Pony Club Polo Camp. Last week, 30 Pony Clubbers were introduced to polo, hitting with foot mallets, off the wooden horse, and finally on the polo field.
Dato’ Mohamed has also been behind the creation of the RSPC Pony Club, which ran the Polo Camp at the club last week. With its success, RSPC plans to run an RSPC Pony Club Polo Camp four times a year. RSPC also plans to include Malaysia’s first Youth Development Polo Tournament in 2021.
The RSPC Pony Club Polo Camp has been recognised by the Federation of International Polo as an International Youth Polo Development Camp.
Dato’ Mohamed Moiz was delighted to receive this international recognition. He said, “As a former Pony Clubber myself, I see the benefit of Malaysia joining in the worldwide Pony Club movement. Starting players as young as 6 years old in the RSPC Pony Club is a way of ensuring Malaysia stays at the top of South East Asian polo. I am delighted that RSPC are at the forefront of building for the future of polo in this country.”
Malaysia’s Youth Polo development goes back to 2005, when the RMPA Polo Leagues were first started. The Malaysian B division team at the 2019 SEA Games had an average age of just 19.25 years. All the players cut their teeth playing in the RMPA Polo Leagues, RMPA Colts, RSPC Triple Crown and RSPC Invitational League.
Here are some of the comments in WhatsApp chat groups that have come in from all over the world:
- Pakistan Team Manager Qubilai Alam: “Super initiative & effort by you all; you’ve even inspired the Pakistan Polo Association & the Lahore Polo Club to emulate you and follow in your trailblazing footsteps.”
- English umpire Ben Turner: “Looked like an amazing Pony Club Christmas Camp! A great place for children to create lasting memories, friendships and learn our amazing sport! The Pony Club here in England has produced many of our international players. The current England squad all played the pony club! Congratulations and keep up the good work!”
- FIP Ambassador and Past President of the Singapore Polo Club, Iqbal Jumabhoy: Super achievement! Congratulations to Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, Shaik Reismann and Peter Abisheganaden
- Australia and Singapore’s Ali Reda: “To the president, captain, Pete Abish and all those involved as well as members of the RSPC committee and the polo playing fraternity; you should be congratulated. Outstanding Program this! … Keep it up and continue to set standards as you have shown in the last few SEA Games!
- Thai Polo’s Harald Link: So well done, congratulations to all of you especially Mohamed, Peter and Shaik !! Hope that one day we can play together again and have some young Malaysian players play with our young ones at Thai Polo! Keep well and continuing, we have supported pony clubs children in England for a few years with great results, so yours will be forthcoming like that as well.
- La Sarita Patron and former FIP Exceutive Council Member Asad Jumabhoy: Pony Club is where it started for me. I’m thrilled to see the great work done by the RMPA, RSPC, KLAP & The Pony Club in lifting the sport these past decades. Congratulations to Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, Peter Abisheganaden, Shaik Reismann & Stanley Sinnappen…
- International umpire Steve Evans: Congratulations Dato’ Moiz, Pete, Shaik, Stan and the rest of the crew on a fantastic initiative. Polo needs more efforts like this to keep it growing. Look forward to seeing what’s to come.
- Noreen Jilani: Congratulations to all. This was a great event. Looking forward to all the new young polo players!
- Argentina’s Carlos Pando: Congrats to everyone involved in this initiative! Great idea and better execution!!
- Australia’s Neville Stewart: What a great way to promote and grow the game we love. Congratulations to all involved.
- Lorna Dodd: Kudos to all! Wonderful to see and hear of the success and international recognition that you all deserve.
- Datuk Kannan Baba: Wow…congratulations to RSPC & KLAP for all their initiatives and polo development programmes like Polo Pony camp, RSPC – KLAP Christmas training Show, D-Day Dressage Extravaganza..etc..etc It is really a daunting task of organizing programmes and activities one after another like relays in athletics. On that score, syabas & kudos to our President of RSPC Dato’ Mohamed Moiz , Mr. Peter, Mr. Shaik, Coaches Mr. Ali & Mr. Amir and many others whose interests and contributions are immeasurable. You’re the stars of THE ROYAL SELANGOR POLO CLUB.
