After narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Argentine Open in Palermo, Jared Zenni has shifted his focus to the prestigious Cámara de Diputados Cup, regarded as the world’s best polo tournament outside of the Triple Crown. This tournament draws 16 teams with handicaps ranging from 24 to 31 goals, showcasing elite talent and fierce competition.
Zenni, who won the Cámara in 2022 playing for Nuestra Tierra, is determined to reclaim the title. This time playing for La Matera, his teammates are Guillermo Terrera, Valerio Zubiarre, and Santos Merlos. In their opening match, held on Field 2 of the Argentine Polo Association’s venue in Pilar, La Matera faced off against Martindale (Genaro Ringa, Bautista Arrastua, Facundo Retamar, and Manuel Calafell) and secured a 13-10 victory. The game was intense, with La Matera initially taking a 5-0 lead before Martindale closed the gap, pushing the match to a tight second half. The final chukkers saw La Matera reestablish their system of play, allowing them to hold on for the win.
La Matera is in Group B, where they’ll also compete against La Fija (Felipe Marquea, Felipe Martinez Ferrario, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, and Cesar Crespo) and Sol de Agosto La Dolfina (Paco de Narváez, Raul Colombres, Santiago Toccalino, and Jesse Bray). With high hopes of advancing through the group stage, Zenni is eager to leverage his experience and the synergy of his team to make a strong run for the title once again.
Below, Jared shared his thoughts on the tournament, his team, and his goals for the season.
-Jared, what can you tell us about your debut 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 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, and 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, Terre and I started discussing options, and we naturally came to the conclusion of playing with Lerin and Santos. They fit well with us positionally, and everyone has a positive attitude both on and off the field."
-What can you tell us about the last qualification match against La Zeta?
"The last match against La Zeta was really tough. Facing an organization like that, you have to minimize mistakes as much as possible to have a chance. Unfortunately, we made a few errors that, I believe, cost us the game. It’s a shame because we played well as a team, but it just wasn’t our day."
-How would you evaluate the Qualy with La Matera?
"La Matera had a solid classification. Unfortunately for us, 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."
-What are your goals in Argentina?
"We’re ready for the Cámara, and hopefully, we’ll keep growing as a team. Our goals remain the same."
-Having already played in Palermo and won the Cámara, what are your upcoming goals, both in Argentina and the USA (or elsewhere if you plan to play abroad)?
"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."
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