By Bashir Bello, Abuja
Super Eagles super star and Valencia of Spain forward Sadiq Umar has revealed plans to use newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League side Ranchers Bees FC as a platform for discovering and developing young football talents from Kaduna State and beyond.
Speaking during a media parley with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kaduna State chapter, Umar said the ultimate goal of his investment in the historic club is to create opportunities for talented youngsters to fulfil their potential and gain access to international football.
The former Almeria and Real Sociedad star said many gifted young players remain on the streets without opportunities and expressed determination to change the narrative through football development programmes.
“Our mission is to develop children and move them abroad. We have a lot of boys like Zadok on the streets and one of our priorities is to develop them and get them out of the streets,” he said.
Umar disclosed that about 85 per cent of the club’s developmental focus would be on Kaduna indigenes, adding that discussions had already commenced with the Kaduna State Government on strategic partnerships aimed at nurturing football talents.
“The philosophy is for 85 per cent Kaduna indigenes. I have met with the Kaduna State Government and we are going to partner to get these kids developed so that they can become global icons and also play for the Super Eagles,” he stated.
The football star also disclosed that Ranchers Bees had secured commercial partnerships, including an agreement with AA Rano, as part of efforts to build a sustainable football project.
His comments came barely months after Ranchers Bees secured promotion to the NPFL, ending a lengthy absence from Nigeria’s top-flight league. The achievement fulfilled a major objective set by Umar, when he acquired ownership of the Kaduna-based club in 2025.
Founded in the 1970s, Ranchers Bees remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football institutions, producing several national team players and recording notable achievements on both domestic and continental stages. The club reached the final of the 1988 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup and won the WAFU Cup in 1989.
Explaining the motivation behind his investment in Nigerian football, Umar said an interview granted by Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, inspired him to contribute to national development through investment.
According to him, Dangote’s call on Nigerians to invest in the country prompted him to reflect on areas where he could make meaningful contributions.
“I was watching Dangote’s interview where he called on Nigerians to come back and invest in the country. I thought about what I love most, which is football, and I decided to invest in it because it is the best thing I can give back to the community,” he said.
He added that the project combines his passion for football with a desire to contribute to economic and social development in Kaduna.
Speaking on challenges confronting the NPFL, Umar identified poor referee welfare and the current system of match officiating as major obstacles to the growth of Nigerian football.
According to him, referees should be under the direct care of league organisers rather than host clubs to eliminate undue influence and improve transparency.
“You cannot send a referee to the home club and expect the referee to officiate freely. The league body should take care of the referees. Once clubs are responsible for accommodation and feeding, there will always be questions about impartiality,” he said.
He argued that improving officiating standards would significantly enhance the credibility and competitiveness of the domestic league.
On the proposed policy requiring NPFL clubs to operate female teams, Umar described the initiative as commendable but stressed the need for proper implementation.
He said women’s football deserves the same level of planning, investment and professionalism as the men’s game.
The Valencia forward also reaffirmed his commitment to the Super Eagles, describing his relationship with the national team as positive despite recent challenges.
“There will always be a beautiful bond between me and the Super Eagles. I am Nigerian and I grew up watching the team. The only thing between me and the Super Eagles is good work and wishing the team the very best,” he said.
Earlier, SWAN Kaduna State chairman, Comrade Shehu Abdullahi, congratulated Umar on Ranchers Bees’ promotion to the NPFL and his impressive performances with Valencia during the just-concluded Spanish La Liga season.
He noted that Umar’s impact helped Valencia improve significantly on the league table and expressed optimism that the footballer’s growing influence would benefit sports development in Kaduna and Nigeria.
