2026 NPA Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament begins Jan. 11

Players from within and outside Nigeria will gather from January 11 to 17, 2026, in Rivers State for the 2026 NPA Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament with the theme: “United By The Game.”

Among the trophies to be contested for are the Rowland Cookey-Gam, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, President and Governor cups, in addition to a special memorial cup in honour of the late former president of the club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.

Speaking on the competition at the weekend, the president of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, stated that this year’s edition seeks to deepen unity and inclusiveness.

He said: “As the theme of this year’s tournament said, it’s united by the game. So for us as a polo club, it’s a diverse group of people. Polo in itself is played in very diverse manners, and we believe in diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as well. So for us both, male and female, no matter where you come from, we are in a united front to ensure that next year’s tournament will be a major success.

“And if you see again clearly, as part of preparations for this tournament, we have one of our own whom we lost 20 years ago in a plane crash. Rowland Cookey-Gam, who you can see clearly in the part of the emblem for this year’s tournament. So, we’re going to use this tournament to eulogise him, remember him, and of course, appreciate his work for polo within the Harcourt Polo Club and polo in general around the world.”

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, adding, “So we commenced our Catch Get Young programme, and it was very well received by the public, and we are going to intensify the programme.

“And we hope that this whole thing will yield the right dividends in the next four to five years, where we see great polo players all from Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta at large, contesting and competing against the best in the country and of course around the world as well.”

He commended the Rivers State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as other private and corporate sponsors, for their continued support to the club over the years, whilst assuring that the flagship polo tournament in the country would continue to draw people from all walks of life.

The club president assured adequate security before, during and after the tournament, as well as entertainment that will feature a variety of local and national artists, among others.

Also speaking at the event, the captain of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr Ikenna Nebolisa, disclosed that players from Iran, Mexico, England, Argentina, among others, would participate in the tourney, in addition to entries from Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jos.