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TA L K
Opposite, standing, from left:
Nico Pieres,
Sapo Caset, Javier Tanoira, Hilario Ulloa,
Polito Pieres.
Seated, from left:
Facundo Pieres, Pelon Stirling,
Gonzalito Pieres, Juan Martin Nero
This page:
Nico chases brother
Facundo Pieres during the 40-goal
game at Cowdray Park Polo Club
highlighting that there is a definite need for
change in polo, especially regarding the rules,’
explains Tanoira.‘Before the APPL, many
people believed there wasn’t a problem
in the sport, that nothing needed changing.
Thankfully, today, not many people still feel
that way.This has definitely been the biggest
takeaway from this project, showing that with
just a few changes polo can be more exciting
and entertaining, to play and to watch.’
With everyone fighting for funding in
polo,Javier took a different approach,letting
the action do the talking.‘We knew that we
had to go out and show the idea before anyone
would want to buy in,and we have done what
we set out to do,’ says Tanoira.‘The 40-goal
match at Cowdray Parkmarked the end of
stage one.We have shown that this type
of polo is more attractive,and that players
and spectators enjoy it more.’
By organising high-goal tournaments
and exhibition matches in Argentina, USA,
England, France, Spain and Brazil,Tanoira
was able to show how far a few rule changes
could go.‘We managed to get the point across
that for polo to be a spectacle we have to put
the best possible players on the field.This is
another misconception that is prominent in
polo: that it is fine to put bad players on the
field and then invite the public to watch, or
persuade television channels to cover it.The
APPL has made it clear that the best way to
attract a paying audience is to have the best
possible players challenging each other.’
The APPL has unquestionably opened
the debate, be it around the economic model
of polo, the sporting structure, and even
about specific rules – don’t forget that the
implementation of the ‘no over-the-board
throw-in’ rule was greatly inspired by the
success it had in APPLmatches. But, after
a formidable four years, it’s time for reflection.
The APPL is building a crowdfunding platform
and investigating whether an ICO would be
the best way forward. However, before fully
diving into phase two,Tanoira has promised
to publish an essay analysing the steps he
has taken so far, and detailing the ways in
which the project could continue.‘The essay
I amwriting now is a continuation of my last
one, but with a difference,’ tells Tanoira.‘When
I wrote my first essay in 2009, I thought that
would be my total contribution to polo.
I thought that I could suggest new rules and
other people would follow it up. It took me four
years to realise that nobody was going to do
anything, so I decided that I would. I am now
writing about how this project was born and
what we have accomplished. We have come
pretty far, and we hope to go further still.’
