Fresh from the Christmas and New Year festivities, the glamorous Nigerian polo season will gallop off with fanfare on Sunday with the Port Harcourt Polo 50th Anniversary International Tournament, with over twenty top teams across the country jostling for top honours in four major categories.
Port Harcourt Polo Club President, Dr. Chukwudi Dimkpa stated that arrangements have been concluded ahead of what would be the most memorable and exciting polo tournament ever in the Rivers State capital city.
Dimkpa further confirmed that the prestigious polo festival billed to climax with fanfare on January 15, with participating teams jostling for glittering prizes like Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, The President Cup, the Governors’ Cup and the crowded T Y Danjuma Cup, that traditionally attracts the highest number of teams annually.
With traditional rivals and former champions like Abuja Rubicon, Kaduna Trappco, Almat Polo team along with the highly ambitious Profile and Jos Red Crown teams expected, the prestigious Golden Jubilee fiesta, promises to live up to the billings as the biggest polo event in the oil rich Niger Delta region of the country.
“This is a real blow on everyone, both the horses and the players, and being part of this milestone celebration in the Garden City and vying for top honours on one of Nigeria’s best polo ground, is something to be experienced not to be told,” enthused Nigeria’s top rated player, Bello Buba.
Port Harcourt Polo Captain, Cassiel Irighma also disclosed that teams Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Jos, Yola, Katsina and Ibadan loaded with the best Nigerian players expected, high profile Golden celebration promises to live up to the billings as the biggest polo event in the South-South geo-political region of the country.
The expected participation of top Nigerian stars and world-class professionals has already hype the festival to the high heavens as polo aficionados were salivating at the prospect of yet another Port Harcourt high goal extravaganza.
It was also gathered that a grand package of entertainment featuring the best hands in the industry was put in place for teeming polo buffs, players and invited guests during the festival, while a long list of high profile personalities are expected to witness the event this year.
Port Harcourt Polo Club was established in 1972 by the Nigerian Army. It was later handed over to civilian management in 1974 and the club is duly recognized as a polo playing Club by the national polo regulatory authority.
The Club has, since its inception, striven to encourage horse riding, equestrian sporting activities and of course the game of Polo. Over the decades, the club and the festival have become a major centre in the social and tourism calendar in Port Harcourt and the entire South-South zone of the country.