From: TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The Port Harcourt Polo Club has declared its readiness to stage a repeat of International Polo tournament it hosted in January, 2017, to commemorate the Rivers State Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Former President of the Club and Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee (Media/Publicity), Ibifri Bobmanuel, who spoke in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, said the Club wants to use Polo competition to showcase the state’s investment potentials and attract investors.
Bobmanuel, who is also the President, Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum (REIF), further disclosed that the upcoming fiesta would be fun-filled, adding that adequate preparations had been perfected to make the tournament a success.
He disclosed that Governor Nyesom Wike would grace the occasion, adding that notable personalities in the country would be in the State to witness the uniqueness of Port Harcourt International Polo tournament.
“We will be converging here on April 22, for the mother of all tournaments, Polo. The governor will grace the tournament and many important personalities around Nigeria will come to feel at home in Port Harcourt and once again feel the business pulse of the Garden City”, he said.
Also speaking, President of the Club, Ibiwari Pepple, said Port Harcourt Polo Club had been known for its outstanding tournaments, pointing out that the State capital would use the occasion to showcase its tourism potentials and hospitality.
He stated: “It is always a window for tourism promotion in Rivers State. This one is a Jubilee edition. The government wants us to organize the event. We are calling in players around Nigeria and the best will be here. Fun-fare will be certain because we have artistes coming to perform. We are showcasing Rivers artistes and we guarantee that everything will be groovy.
“We must thank the governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, for trusting the Club so much and for being of tremendous help; always coming through for us. We promise not to let him down. He will come and see the type of Polo being played in Port Harcourt”.
Captain of the Club, Michael Ogolo, explained: “This tournament is for one day; but, we are putting seven days efforts to it. We have the international community in Port Harcourt and some ambassadors that would grace the occasion to make it very grandiose.
” We cannot afford to make it one bit less than what we have been doing. We invite the entire Nigeria to come and celebrate the 50 years anniversary of our state and how polo makes Port Harcourt thick. We have a governor who is tourism-driven and loves polo. He wants us to showcase polo and put the state in good light, all to show that Rivers State is open for business”.