LAHORE Lahore Polo Club president Irfan Ali Hyder looked fairly optimistic about the coming season in his maiden media appearance after assuming office early this year. In the season-launching media appearance in the heart of the now-walled-and-guarded GOR-1, veteran Irfan came up with a promise - that polo lovers will continue to brave the odds in all weathers. Its not just the new president, there is almost everything new to the club this season. The new grounds, new executive committee, new grounds, new grass, new coaches, new sponsors and even the new office-as a manager would now replace the secretary. The press conference was organised prior to the inaugural tournament - a new practice that the president says would be followed from now on. Irfan paid his gratitude to former president Abdul Qadir Khan Mamdot, grandson of a close friend of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and a respected gentleman at the club. Irfan said, The club converted yet another ground into an all-weather ground and I am proud to announce that this field will be operational in November this year. It has been made according to the same specifications as at the Aibak Ground. Irfan said veterans Sufi Muhammad Aamir and Sufi Muhammad Haris and Mir Shoaib had provided funds for the ground and the Farm Water Management Department provided the technical assistance for that. The new committee took over in August and the first thing it did was to enhance the facilities. He said a polo academy is to be launched this year where a local coach will impart training. He said junior leagues (U-16 and U-12) will be launched. Irfan said that 26 tournaments will be played this season and players from Argentina and the UK who would be playing in different teams. HSBC are sponsoring the inaugural tournament. The first tournament starts in first week of November.