NEWS

After narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Argentine Open in Palermo, Jared Zenni* is now setting his sights on the prestigious Cámara de Diputados Cup. Featuring 16 teams, the 24- to 31-goal tournament is recognized as one of the premier tournaments outside the Triple Crown. Zenni, who won the Cámara in 2022 with Nuestra Tierra is eager to top the podium with La Matera Polo Team (Lerin Zubiaurre, Guillermo Terrera, Santos Merlos).

In its opening match at the Argentine Polo Association’s (AAP) venue in Pilar, La Matera Polo Team faced off against Martindale Argentina Polo Gin (Genaro Ringa, Bautista Arrastua, Facundo Retamar, Manuel Calafell) and secured a 13-10 victory. An intense competition, La Matera Polo Team raced out to a 5-0 lead. Featuring a tight second half, in the final chukker, La Matera Polo Team reestablished its system of play to hold on for the win.

Competing in Zone B, La Matera Polo Team’s next match is slated for Wednesday, November 6, against La Fija Synergy Cloning (Felipe Marquez, Felipe Martinez Ferrario, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Cesar Crespo). The team will then face Sol de Agosto La Dolfina (Paco de Narvaez, Raul Colombres, Santiago Toccalino, Jesse Bray*) on Wednesday, November 13. Zenni enters the group stage with high hopes of advancing, eager to leverage his experience and his team’s synergy for another strong run at the title.

Jared, what can you tell us about your first game in the Cámara de Diputados Cup?
“Luckily, we managed to get the game under control. These matches are very challenging, especially mentally. Obviously, all the teams in the Cámara are very good and have earned their place there. For us, after the disappointment of not qualifying for Palermo, getting our momentum back was tough. We started strong, leading 5-0, but then they came back, and the game got more intense. We kept trying to stick to our system, which brings us structure and good play. I believe that’s what helped us pull through in the end.”

How did you put the team together?
“At the end of last year, Guillermo and I started discussing options and we came to the conclusion of playing with Lerin and Santos. They fit well with us positionally, and everyone brings a positive attitude both on and off the field.”

How would you assess La Matera Polo Team's performance in the Qualy?
“La Matera had a solid classification. Unfortunately, the only real measure of success is whether we qualify or not. That’s the goal when you organize to play. We performed well, but it just didn’t go our way. We’re ready for the Cámara and hopefully, we’ll keep growing as a team.”

What are your upcoming goals?
“My plan every time I commit to a tournament, is to give it 110%–to do it right and go all in. The goal is to win the Cámara and, hopefully, the repechaje and to have a strong season in the U.S.”

Do you have any plans for the United States next year?
"I’m working on a few things that will hopefully pan out. About a month ago, I was notified that the team I was set to play for in April won’t be playing anymore, which left me a bit in limbo. So, I’m hoping for the best."

*Jared Zenni and Jesse Bray are Team USPA alumni. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

Photos courtesy of ©Pedro Insaurralde.