Testimonial Game: Why Yobo dumps Lagos for Port-Harcourt

Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo will now play his testimonial game in Port Harcourt, at the end of the European season in May.
The coordinator of the event and ex-international Waheed Akanni said that the organisers chose Port-Harcourt because most of the players expected at the event would prefer to play on the grass than artificial turf.
Akanni said players like Wayne Rooney, Samuel Eto, Yaya Toure and other friends of Yobo are expected to feature in the testimonial match.
The former Lagos State Football Association (FA) chairman said Yobo’s testimonial match would be the best ever.
He also added that the former Everton of England defender will also be launching his foundation officially on that day, the programme he kicked started in 2007 to help under-privileged children in Nigeria.
“The story of Yobo playing his testimonial match was not from us. I don’t even think that should be an issue now. The person they are celebrating is from a town and his people want to do it from him. It is not as if the story of Lagos was wrong or something, it is just that his state wants to do it for him,” Akanni said.
“”There is no quarrel about that. It is just a small changing of venue by reason of where the man is from. I don’t think that should be an issue.  It is not that Lagos is fighting Port-Harcourt.
“Again, most of the people that will come will love to play on the grass and Lagos has only astro turf pitch. And facility is number one when you are hosting this kind of event. Even, when Kanu testimonial match was played in Lagos, a lot of stars did not play because of the artificial turf and people coming for this match will have to go and play a week after the event and they will not want to play on the astro turf.
“It is not as if Lagos is not good to host the event. By the grace of God we will make sure that we host the best testimonial game ever in the world.”