Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar and Bello El-Rufai, a House of Representatives member representing Kaduna North and son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, have officially taken ownership of Ranchers Bees FC, a historic football club based in Kaduna. The announcement was made on Monday.
The new owners have expressed their commitment to restoring the club’s former success and pushing for promotion to the Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) in the near future.
Ranchers Bees FC, founded in the 1970s, once stood out as a powerhouse in northern Nigerian football. Cu
The club reached the final of the 1988 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup and won the 1989 WAFU Cup.
However, financial and administrative difficulties in recent years have seen the club struggle in the Nigerian National League.
Umar highlighted their vision for the club:
“We want to return the club to its old glory days.”
He added that their primary goal is to see Ranchers Bees back in the NPFL:
“Growing up, I watched Rancher Bees of Kaduna, a club that produced countless players. It’s a thing of pride and joy for us to be the bona fide owners of the club.”
Expressing his excitement over the response from fans, Umar said:
“I’m elated by the feedback from Rancher Bees supporters and the people of Kaduna. We will bring back the old memories of the club and return the fans to the stadium.”
