Brixton youngsters show off their polo skills during Royal Windsor Cup
Written by News on 22/06/2019
Youth teams from disadvantaged backgrounds have played polo during the prestigious Royal Windsor Cup for the first time.
Two youth polo teams based in south London from two charities, Power of Polo and Ebony, were invited to play an friendly match on Friday during the elite event at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park.
The Royal Windsor Cup is famous for attracting Royals and A-Listers, but this year has also welcomed young polo players who have been developing their skills at a club in Brixton, south London.
Ronnie Kusi, 26, was in a gang from a young age and his two best friends are now dead. He says the opportunity to play polo has completely changed his mindset and his life.
“As a teenager there was a lot of gang violence going on, a lot of murders and knives and guns being hidden in bushes and so on,” he told Sky News.
“It was crazy, even if you want to do good it’s hard to do good with so much temptation. Your friends, peers, everything, everyone’s doing it so why wouldn’t you get involved? I’m just really grateful that I’ve managed to fight through that and avoid certain things and count my blessings.
“Polo has changed a lot for me in terms of my mentality, the way I conduct myself. I was doing okay before but it’s enhanced me in a different type of way where I can go anywhere and talk to anyone, I can fit in the polo world, the corporate world, the streets, so it’s elevated me at a different level.”
Ronnie has subsequently found work as a recruitment specialist with a technology firm.
Omari Anderson, 13, says he has relished the opportunity to play a new sport.
“My friends and school teachers are quite shocked that there’s a place like this and this facility in a place like Brixton,” he said.
“They intend to support me as much as they can, they’ve seen me ride or videos of me riding so they’re quite shocked and it’s new for them.”
The Royal Windsor Cup, Guards Polo Club’s oldest tournament, concludes on Sunday with senior Royals expected to attend.
(c) Sky News 2019: Brixton youngsters show off their polo skills during Royal Windsor Cup
