Kaduna’s historic football club, Rancher Bees FC, has found new owners in Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar and Kaduna North lawmaker Bello El-Rufai.
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The duo officially took control of the club ahead of the upcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The deal, officially announced in a statement on Monday, grants Sadiq Umar and Bello El-Rufai full ownership of the Kaduna-based club. Sadiq Umar expressed great enthusiasm about the takeover, emphasizing the goal to restore Rancher Bees to its former glory. “We want to return the club to its old glory days… It’s a thing of pride and joy for us to be the owners,” Umar said.
Rancher Bees FC holds a significant place in Nigerian football history, having produced several players who went on to represent the country internationally. The club has a passionate fan base in Kaduna, and the new ownership hopes to rekindle that support.
The new management plans to run both an academy team and a professional squad competing in the NNL. Their ambition is clear: to achieve promotion to the Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) and bring top-flight football back to Kaduna.
Sadiq Umar also highlighted the importance of reconnecting with the fans, stating that the positive response so far motivates them to “bring back the old memories of the club and return the fans to the stadium.”
