Baku Guardians is an Azerbaijani polo team set up in 2014 and based in London, UK. The team is patronized by Nasib Piriyev and supported by the PNN Group. The players continue a tradition that began in Azerbaijan with the Chovgan game, forerunner of modern polo, and since Azerbaijan is known as ‘The Land of Fire’, the team’s motto sounds like ‘The Guardians of the Flame’.
In May 2014, Baku Guardians took part in its first tournament - the British Royal Charity Polo Cup, which was sponsored by De Beers Diamond Jewellery and held at the Billingbear Polo Club in Berkshire, South East England, in a bid to raise money for good causes.
Prince William of the United Kingdom, who played alongside professionals Simon Holland, Lyndon Lea and world number one player Facundo Pieres, captained Baku Guardians’ team. And his younger brother Prince Harry headed the King Power team, playing alongside Gonzalito Pieres and Thai players Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha and Talapichet 'Ton' Srivaddhanaprabha.
More than 300 guests were invited to watch this wonderful polo match, which finally ended with a 6 score draw on both sides. And after the game, Princes joined spectators at a lavish dinner at the polo club, and all the guests were invited to take part in an auction to raise money for charities including HALO, ESSA, England and Wales Mountain Rescue and Walking With The Wounded, which had all been chosen by the royals.
