Sports
Garden City brace for 2026 Niger Delta Polo Festival
The 2026 Port Harcourt International Polo tournament, themed “United by The Game,” a highly anticipated biggest and largest polo festival in the oil rich Niger Delta region is expected to gallop off with fanfare from January 11th to 17th ,2026 at the foremost GRA Polo Ground in the Garden City.
Revered as the biggest sporting attraction and number one social showpiece in the region, the 2026 edition will also serve as the 20th memorial of the passing of a polo icon and past president of Port-Harcourt Polo Club, Roland Cookey-Gam.
The President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, who disclosed this at a media briefing, stated that next year’s edition seeks to deepen unity and inclusiveness, declaring that the annual festival has over the years, serve as a major commercial boost for Rivers State economy as well as the Niger Delta region.
He said: “Like the theme of this year’s tournament said, “for us as polo club, it’s a diverse group of people. Polo in itself is played in very diverse manners, and we believe in unity, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as well.
“As part of preparations for this tournament, we have one of our own who we lost 20 years ago in a plane crash. Rowland Cookey-Gam as you can see him clearly in the emblem for this year’s tournament.”
“ We are going to use this tournament to eulogize him, remember him, and of course, appreciate his work for polo within the Harcourt Polo Club and polo in general around the world.”
Prince Agbodjan noted that the club was able to achieve its goals during the last tournament, especially in the area of catching them young and taking polo to the grassroots. “So, we are going to build on the program that was very well received by the public intensifying the program.”
He commended the Rivers State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alongside other private and corporate sponsors for their continued support to the club over the years, assuring that the flagship polo tournament in the country would continue to draw people from all walks of life.
Major prizes to be contested for in the weeklong carnival include King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, President, Governor cups, as well the Rowland Coockey-Gam played in honour of late former president of the club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.
Subsidiary trophies, medals and individual prizes will be awarded to winners and runners-up who distinguished themselves during the fiesta, while sponsors and individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of polo in Nigeria will also be recognized.
Captain of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr. Ikenna Nebolisa who also confirmed that Port Harcourt was ready to rock in the weeklong polo extravaganza, disclosed that players from Iran, Mexico, England, Argentina, among others would be participating at the tourney, in addition to entries from Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jos.
He noted that the tournament, themed ‘United in the Game,’ aims to provide a lively and enjoyable experience for polo enthusiasts nationwide, with billboard entertainment and a variety of social activities to spice the New Year celebrations.
The captain added that, apart from the matches, attendees could look forward to opportunities to purchase items at affordable rates from the tournament’s Micro Market throughout the fiesta.
Dr. Nebolisa also disclosed that matches would take place daily while the teams would compete in high-goal, medium goal and low-goal categories.
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