Following their hard-earned promotion back to the top flight of Nigerian football, historic club Ranchers Bees of Kaduna is laying the groundwork for a highly anticipated campaign in the 2026/2027 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
At a media parley organized by the Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kaduna State Chapter, club CEO and active professional footballer Sadik Umar (popularly known as “Jololo”) outlined his grand vision to transform the club from a newly promoted side into the absolute best team in the country.
# A Vision for Excellence and Community Ownership
Reflecting on his personal journey from acting as a ball boy at the Kaduna Township Stadium to leading the club as its owner, Umar emphasized that reviving Ranchers Bees was born out of a desire to invest back into his home community.
“My dream is to see Ranchers Bees in the flag of top of the teams in Nigeria,” Umar stated. “The mission is to be the best team… If they will tell me to choose one best, I will say I want Ranchers Bees to be the best in Nigeria.”
While acknowledging the financial strain that often cripples individually owned football clubs in Nigeria, Umar revealed that his model relies heavily on building strategic partnerships and opening the floor to community stakeholders. He noted that the club is actively structured so that fans and local individuals can eventually own shares, preventing the team from relying solely on government funding or a single patron.
85% Local Talent Policy and Youth Development
Addressing questions regarding player recruitment and the need for top-tier experience in the NPFL, the CEO doubled down on a strict, community-first philosophy: 85% of the squad must consist of Kaduna indigenes.
Instead of traditional open trials, player recruitment is handled strictly through modern football dynamics and targeted scouting. High-profile local stars, such as Kabiru Mohamed and Lamine, have already joined the ranks, alongside the contract renewal of NNL promotion hero Suleiman Alhaji.
Furthermore, Umar revealed crucial backing from the state government to secure the club’s long-term future. Following a meeting with the Kaduna State Governor, the club is set to be allocated a piece of land to construct a dedicated training ground. This facility will act as an academy hub to discover, develop, and eventually export local youth talent directly to European leagues and the national team.
# Commercial Growth and Logistics
Commercially, Ranchers Bees enters the premier division with significant corporate backing through a robust partnership with massive conglomerate AA Rano, spanning their logistics, aviation, agriculture, and lubricant divisions. Umar confirmed that while European agencies and clubs remain highly interested in transfer deals, the club remains wide open to further domestic commercial partnerships.
For the local fans eagerly awaiting the return of premier football to the “Crocodile City,” Umar gave a definitive confirmation regarding their home turf: Ranchers Bees will play 100% of their home matches at the Kaduna Township Stadium for the 2026/2027 season, moving away from the neutral venues in Niger State that hosted them during parts of their NNL run.
# Meeting League Mandates
When questioned about the mandatory CAF and NPFL policy requiring top-flight clubs to maintain an active women’s football team, Umar acknowledged the importance of the directive but indicated a measured approach. The immediate priority, he noted, remains finalizing the structures and stability of the men’s senior team as they adjust to the rigors of the elite division before fully expanding into the women’s game.
With a major coaching announcement teased to drop “in the coming hours,” Ranchers Bees is wasting no time signaling to the rest of the NPFL that they are not just returning to make up the numbers—they are returning to rule.