Ranchers Bees Football Club has officially unveiled Coach Patrick Bassey as their new head coach ahead of the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
The unveiling ceremony, held on Monday in Kaduna, attracted several football dignitaries and media representatives. Among the notable attendees were Club President, Nura Bulala, and Kaduna State Football Association Chairman, Faisal Abdullahi, both of whom expressed optimism that Bassey’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era of progress for the club.
In his first address as head coach, Bassey expressed gratitude to the club’s owner, Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar, for the opportunity and vowed to lead the team to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
“They’ve given us a target to promote the team to the NPFL. That’s what we’re working towards,” Bassey said. “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.”
A seasoned tactician with years of experience in both top-flight and grassroots football, Bassey is widely respected for his tactical discipline and player development skills. His appointment is seen as a statement of intent from the Kaduna-based club, which is determined to reclaim its place among Nigeria’s elite football teams.
Also unveiled at the ceremony was goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, a former Super Eagles and U-23 national team shot-stopper. Daniel expressed his delight at joining the project and pledged to guide the younger players with his experience.
“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,” Daniel stated.
Ranchers Bees will compete in Conference D of the upcoming NNL season, where they will face strong opposition from clubs such as Gombe United, Yobe Desert Stars, and Kebbi United.
With Bassey now at the helm and fresh reinforcements added to the squad, optimism is growing in Kaduna that the once-iconic Ranchers Bees can mount a serious promotion challenge and restore the pride of one of Nigeria’s most storied football institutions.