Jadini was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the end of the match on Sunday at the Nairobi Polo Club, where he starred as the hosts won 3-2.
It is an honour, which even he admits never featured on his mind prior to taking to the field for his first assignment in national colours.
“No, I actually didn’t think I was the most valuable player because most of my teammates worked very well around me…could have been any one of us to be honest. I am honoured to be voted the MVP by members of the opposing team because it means I was doing something great. I am also proud to wear the colours of our national flag…for my country…it really means a lot to me,” the 21-year-old says.
Jadini further salutes his most experienced teammates – Voorspuy, Ben Stonewigg and Jess Craig – for holding his hand and guiding him seamlessly through his baby steps as a national team player.
“For my Kenyan team, I want to say a big thank you to Ben, Archie and Jess because they are my seniors in the team and they were instructing me and keeping me encouraged. A very difficult game…it’s always tough playing against an organised team because they are always in the right place at the right time,” the Loughborough University graduate says.
He adds: “Tough game against a very organised side but fortunately we won. It could have gone either way. They are a very good side with good players and good friendship…and when the friendship is good that means the chemistry is good.”
‘Pressure…what pressure?’
Whereas many would have been expecting a typical youngster making his national bow to quake in his boots, Jadini says his vital readings were normal in the hours leading up to the match.
“I didn’t know I was going to play for Kenya until Saturday. I guess I had a short time to prepare myself mentally but I usually try my best to think too much about it. I just like to let things happen as they happen,” he explains.
These might seem mere words but for someone who also specialises in kickboxing (Muay Thai) and kickboxing, it is little wonder that the youngster’s mental fortitude is rock solid.
The Chemical Engineering graduate says this love for polo — and everything sports — has built him into a prized asset of a man who is well-rounded and focused on his goals.
“Anything that requires me to run around and sweat, I am in there. The thing with polo is that you have to think about so many things at the same time. Even in life you find you are able to focus on more than one thing at a time because most of the time we have more than one important thing we are supposed to do,” Jadini says.
He adds: “It is something I can’t measure but I can definitely feel it. This sport has done that for me because I have to think about so many things on the field so that allows me to handle so many tasks at the same time…in school or in my private life.”
Family tradition
His steely nerves has kept him on a steady path to charting the same path as his father, immediate former Nairobi Polo Club chair Raphael Nzomo, and sister, Hiromi, both of who have represented the country in many international assignments.
Nzomo Jr. says he doesn’t feel under pressure to continue the family name rather is simply enjoying his beautiful relationship and love for polo.
“The fact that we still play polo as an amateur sport means that the pressure element is not too bad. But, honestly, considering I was flying the flag for my country and my family, there was a bit of pressure. We (the Nzomos) are a family of soldiers and a little bit of butterflies is never a bad thing but to just keep pushing,” he explained.
As he hopes to kick on from his national team debut, Jadini is expectant of what the future holds for him, not only from a sporting perspective but also life in general.
He will soon be going back to the United Kingdom to commence his Master’s studies.
Jadini Nzomo: hopefully, a name many polo enthusiasts will talk about for many years to come.
