SPORTS
Port Harcourt Polo Club Set for 50th Anniversary Celebration
President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa, has said that the 50th anniversary of the club, slated for Jan. 9 to 15, 2022, will showcase the tourism potentials of Rivers state.
Dimkpa stated this during an interview with the newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt.
He said that polo is a game of kings that attracts people from all walks of life, particularly the upper echelon of the society, as the anniversary would be an opportunity to showcase Rivers tourism potentials.
“And whenever you have a tournament like this, the golden jubilee of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, it will be attracting people from all over the world.
“Players from Argentina, Brazil, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana and all the clubs under the Nigerian Polo Association (NPA) in Lagos, Kaduna, Ibadan, Kano and the private farms as well will be coming to play.
“So, the best of the best will be in Port Harcourt,” he said.
According to Dimkpa, the tournament is a case of polo styles, as the game goes with a lot of styles.
“You will see a lot of dress styles, people looking fabulous and displaying all sorts of clothes and wears.
“And again, in the evening after the games, you settle down to the best entertainment that you can get in Port Harcourt for that one week.
“So, Port Harcourt Polo Club is the only destination from Jan. 9 to 15, 2022, for top class polo,” he added.
The President said that Rivers is a tourists destination and the club would showcase to the world that the game is part of the culture of the people of Rivers.
“So, we are going to have cultural displays within the seven days of the tournament.
“We have picked a few of our tribes and also working in partnership with the Seki Dance Troupe of Port Harcourt as well.
“There is going to be a lot of Rivers culture that will be displayed for attraction,” he stated.
Dimkpa, who is Managing Director of Strata Base Group, one of the sponsors of the tournament, said that the anniversary would encourage a lot of people to love polo.
“Polo game is learned, you learn how to ride a horse and progress to play polo.
“It will encourage a lot of people to get onto the horse, start riding and eventually we will get a lot of people interested in the game of polo,” the President said.
Dimkpa boasted that Port Harcourt has the best Polo Club in Nigeria, and the best field in West Africa.
He said that once the weather is dry, Port Harcourt Polo Club is the destination for all polo players.
The highest handicaps in polo, Bello Buba and Hamisu Buba, that were +4 in Nigeria, would be participating in the tournament.
The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, a +1 player, the President of Nigeria Polo Association (NPA), Tajudeen Dantata, and the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, are expected to be in Port Harcourt for tournament. (NAN)
The Super Eagles camp in Cairo has grown to 22 players with the arrival of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) international friendly match against Egypt.
News reports that Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel reported to camp earlier on Monday at the Renaissance Hotel, joining a steadily increasing squad.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Igoh Ogbu and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi were also among the latest arrivals to bolster the team.
They linked up with early arrivals Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had checked in on Sunday.
Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe said that 20 players participated in the team’s first training session held on Monday evening.
“Training went smoothly and the players showed good energy and commitment, which is encouraging at this stage of preparations,” Efoghe said.
Efoghe said that Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Alebiosu arrived shortly after training, raising the number of players in camp to 22, with six more expected.
He said as part of preparations, the Super Eagles would play a friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
“The friendly will help the technical crew assess team shape and readiness ahead of the AFCON challenge,” Efoghe said.
Nigeria, three-time champions, and seven-time winners Egypt will clash at 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time) in the build-up to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Efoghe confirmed that the team will depart Cairo for Féz on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to continue final preparations.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013, begins on Dec. 23 against Tanzania, under the theme “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”
The Eagles will also face Tunisia on Dec. 27 and Uganda on Dec. 30 in Group C, with all matches scheduled for the Complexe Sportif de Féz.
Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three consecutive times, will battle South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, with matches holding in Agadir.
As anticipation builds for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, the Confederation of African Football has released a list of items prohibited across all tournament stadiums.
According to the guidelines cited on CAF’s website on Monday, the rules are aimed at ensuring fan safety throughout the competition.
Fans attending AFCON 2025 matches in Morocco will be subjected to security screening.
They are advised not to bring prohibited items into stadiums to ensure safety, order and a smooth match-day experience.
Below is the list of items fans are advised to leave at home before entering AFCON stadiums:
Alcoholic beverages, Illegal substances and drugs, Weapons and sharp objects, Fireworks and pyrotechnics, Glass bottles or containers, Flammable materials, Racist, violent or discriminatory banners, Unauthorised political, religious or commercial signs, Drones and animals, Large umbrellas and oversized hats, Professional cameras and recording equipment, Musical instruments and loud horns, Radio-emitting devices (except mobile phones) and Heavy or large bags.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has disclosed that the team are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season.
The Spanish tactician made this known after the Citizens thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League game.
In a chat with the club’s website, Guardiola stated that the team are in a better position than last season.
“Many things we have to improve.
Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us.“When you win in the past, you believe the past was perfect, always brilliant, always the red carpet.
When we won with 100 points, all the things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today. The resilience was part of that.“There are moments that you struggle. Madrid was not the perfect game, but it was a step. We fought unbelievably to achieve that.
“We are in a better position than last season. We are close in the competitions we are in.”
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