Sadiq Umar (left) and Bello el-Rufai
Sadiq Umar, Super Eagles striker, alongside Bello el-Rufai, has acquired the ownership rights of Ranchers Bees FC of Kaduna.
The acquisition was confirmed in a statement on Monday.
Ranchers Bees FC was founded in the 1970s and was one of the traditional football powerhouses in northern Nigeria.
The club finished as runners-up in the 1988 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup after narrowly losing to Tunisia’s CA Bizertin in the final.
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However, Ranchers Bees have recently been languishing in the lower division of the Nigerian domestic football ladder.
Umar said he and his partner “want to return the club to its old glory days”.
He added that the target is to return the club to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
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“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,” the Super Eagles player 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.”
Bello is the son of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna. He is also a lawmaker representing Kaduna north constituency at the house of representatives.
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