Acropolis/Slav question from NAC/ECL

I cant provide the exact stats, but I watched every single NAC game and I recall seeing the slavs feature a lot on Acropolis. On first examination this seems like a solid pick: the slavs have bloodlines to help with an extended scout rush or knights, free tracking to help spears defend against scouts, +5 pop per military production building, and ofc their amazing farms. Until the imperial age where the slav meta is usually to transition to infantry and siege (I note FU cavalier and hussar are available), the slavs are almost a cavalry civ, very mobile and suited to Acropolis.

However, and again I cant provide the exact stats, I recall seeing the slavs loose on acropolis significantly more than they won. In watching, it seemed to me that the slavs lack of camels and good ca or crossbows left them vulnerable to civs with those units. Such civs, and the indians in particular, could pressure quick walled woodlines, engage vs pikes, and trade very cost effectively vs knights.

I'm not suggesting any balance change needs to be made based on these observations, but I'm a little intrigued why the slavs featured so much on a map which, to my mind, is more suited to the huns, magyars, indians, malians, britons and mongols amongst others. It doesn't seem to fit the playstyle of slower siege/infantry/monk heavy civs like the celts, teutons, khmer, vikings and slavs.

Finally, to support my theory, on the acropolis games played so far in the ECL eastern europe 1v1's, I have seen the huns and magyars feature. I note that there is a limited civ pool, but the slavs are in that pool.

Finally finally, I'd like to express my excitement for these and future tournaments, and my appreciation for the time and effort spent by those organising and participating in those tournaments.