Ranchers Bees Football Club of Kaduna has officially appointed Coach Patrick Bassey as their new head coach ahead of the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The announcement was made on Monday, with several football dignitaries and media representatives in attendance, including Club President, Nura Bulala, and Kaduna State Football Association Chairman, Faisal Abdullahi.
Bulala and Abdullahi both expressed confidence that Coach Bassey’s appointment would mark a new era of success for the historic Kaduna side. Coach Bassey, a seasoned tactician with extensive experience in the Nigerian domestic scene, expressed gratitude to the club’s owner and Super Eagles striker, Sadiq Umar, for entrusting him with the team’s leadership.
“I want to thank the club’s owner, Sadiq Umar, for believing in me,” Coach Bassey said. “I pledge to work tirelessly toward achieving the club’s promotion target. We’ve been given a target to promote the team to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), and that’s what we’re working towards. We want to bring joy back to Kaduna and to the fans of Ranchers Bees, to show that this club has come to stay and will bring glory once again.”
Coach Bassey is known for his technical expertise, leadership, and ability to develop young talent. His appointment is seen as a statement of intent by Ranchers Bees as they aim to reclaim their place among Nigeria’s football elite.
The club also unveiled goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, a former national team shot-stopper, who expressed his excitement at joining the team and promised to bring his experience to bear in their promotion quest.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this team,” Daniel said. “With the vast experience I’ve gathered over the years, it’s a wonderful opportunity to impact the young players and help the team achieve our goal of promotion. I’m looking forward to working with Coach Bassey and the rest of the team to make this happen.”
Ranchers Bees will compete in Conference D of the upcoming NNL season, facing stiff competition from teams like Gombe United, Yobe Desert Stars, and Kebbi United. With Coach Bassey at the helm and a strengthened squad led by experienced players like Daniel, optimism is high that the Kaduna-based club will mount a serious challenge for promotion to the NPFL and restore the glory of one of Nigeria’s most storied football institutions.
