Polo: Adolfo Cambiaso realizes his last dream and consecrates himself in Palermo with his son Poroto

It was November 26, 2005. Exactly one week ago he turned 17. The anecdote is well known. That day, on field 2 in Palermo, La Dolfina, in the first season of the historic formation of Cambiaso-Monteverde-Aguerre-Castagnola who would go on to win four Opens, was playing against Centauros-Beaufort, a team that didn’t have to bring complications to the big favorite. Meanwhile, in her house in Cañuelas, María Vázquez had been accompanied because her second child was asking for a clue to be born. After the long rest the fourth chukker follows Cambiaso was told that his wife was already in the clinic and that Dr. Germán van Thillo, the obstetrician, was also arriving. La Dolfina won 12-3 and in the fifth chapter managed a 6-1 run to secure the win. At the same time, Cambiaso, still in overalls, and Van Thillo arrived. and after a while Adolfo was born, who was immediately called Poroto. He was the couple’s second child. They say that Cambiaso gave birth to his dream right there.

That dream was to play one day in Palermo with his son. “I’m only asking for health so I can go to court with him. It’s been 30 years…”, he repeated over and over when the heir looked really good. She made that dream come true. But he had more. Maybe something you never imagined. Or if. Because in Adolfo Cambiaso’s head everything is possible…

History will tell that on a sunny Friday (atypical for an Argentine Polo Open final) December 2, 2022, La Dolfina, with both Cambiaso for the first time in a definition, won the tournament for the 15th time. In his 22nd final in 23 Opens played since the club’s creation in 2000 (just wasn’t in the 2004 definition). Stupendous. History will also tell that the eldest of the Cambiaso family won his 18th tournament title (in 25 finals) and that his teammates David Stirling added the tenth and Juan Martín Nero, the 12th. For the youngest Cambiaso, obviously, it was the first… of how many will the one who ousted Benjamín Araya as Palermo’s youngest winner have?

But the story, many years from now, He will hardly remember that final photo with father and son embracing in the middle of pitch 1 of the Argentine Polo Field. There, in that unity of flesh and soul that lasted almost a minute, something had to be said. It will stay for them, of course.

It was a final worthy of the tournament. With two teams looking for victory with weapons. But with La Dolfina feeling more and more than the opponent despite the equal handicap (La Natividad also has 39 goals). And if La Dolfina felt superior, it was because it was clear from the outset that to win it it was necessary to cut the circuit between the Castagnolas and that, if that connection was not interrupted, extreme care had to be taken with Camilo, the younger brother, the talent that , it has already been proven, you can define a game yourself and without problems.

Perhaps Cambiaso has begun to think about the most important match of the year in the past Fiestas, in the intimacy of his field in Washington, the corner of Cordoba where he has his calf. There he imagined that to win the Open he had to ride more and better. Him and his companions. And so he did. And this was one of the big differences of the afternoon. Because in terms of horsepower, La Dolfina has surpassed La Natividad. And that supremacy was also noticeable from the start when Poroto Cambiaso -his evolution in the last two years was impressive-, well supported by David Stirling in midfield, became the best of his team in that period.

By managing the match and the result, we saw the best of La Dolfina. A quartet appeared, reading more and more clearly where the game was passing. And it was then that the figures of the Uruguayan Stirling also grew, who has always closely followed Camilo Cambiaso and, at times, canceled him, and, above all, Juan Martín Nero, the figure in the field who confirmed him as the best all-time fullback.

The champion entered the final chukka with a comfortable four-goal lead. But in a flurry Camilo Cambiaso left the result narrower. Just two apart. Even if the icing on the cake was missing. Stirling scored for the first time on the backboard wickerwork (curious: it was his first goal of the tournament). And immediately, on the other side, a remarkable run by Adolfo Cambiaso allowed him to score the definitive 13-9. To shout that goal in front of his palenque. To think that if the time has come for that retirement that is approaching and that he doesn’t avoid, he can do it without owing anything to anyone. And with the duty more than fulfilled.

Because Cambiaso has done everything in polo. And to his records, his titles, his achievements and his triumphs he now added the immense happiness of accompanying his son to touch glory. This is immeasurable. And it will stay forever.