The Namibian polo season came to an end this weekend, concluding months of competition and shifting attention to efforts aimed at growing the sport in the country.

While the season may be over on the field, organisers say their focus has now shifted to increasing participation and strengthening the foundations of the sport.

Polo trainer and manager at La Muela, Mariano Mazitelli, said the off-season provides an opportunity to attract new players and raise awareness of polo in Namibia.

“We have one of the best international polo clubs, and I am really proud of our facilities, our horses, and our organisation here.” The Argentinean workers learn from scratch how to care for, train, and prepare the horses for play, because polo involves more than just the match.

Development remains a priority, with efforts aimed at creating more entry points into the sport.
With Namibia's horse-riding community, organisers believe there is potential to identify riders from equestrian disciplines and introduce them to polo.

“This here, we will need to build a polo association. For that, we will need a second club, so more people interested in being patrons, like Tim, can, you know, promote the big structure of the polo. We are doing polo here professionally, of course, because we take care of the people on the field. We have been professional players, but for professional-size polo in the country, we need more people to invest in the sport. Okay. So you go do your film while I go do mine.”

 As the current season concludes, focus is shifting towards the sport's future. Increased participation and ongoing development efforts are expected to support growth in polo, with organisers hoping to attract more players, investors, and clubs in the years ahead.