Get Guardian on GoogleThe management of Wikki Tourists FC has expressed confidence in the club’s readiness to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) ahead of the 2026/2027 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The Sole Administrator of the club, Haruna Bako, said the team was determined to use the forthcoming NNL campaign as a platform to reclaim its place in the country’s top-flight football league.
Bako disclosed this at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Forum organised by the Bauchi State chapter at the NUJ Secretariat, Bauchi.
He said the club had intensified preparations, including playing several friendly matches to strengthen the squad and address identified gaps ahead of the new season.
The administrator, however, identified inadequate patriotism among some supporters and members of the public as one of the challenges confronting the club, lamenting that some fans often cheer visiting teams at the expense of the home side.
“I am optimistic that with the conduct of elections into the Wikki Tourists Supporters Club, there will be changes,” he said.
Bako said the club had also recorded some administrative and commercial progress, including the development of a website with support from the state government to enhance its visibility and international profile.
“I am glad to inform you that Wikki Tourists FC now has a sponsor, Shafa Energy, which has produced jerseys for the club. We also have invitations from football clubs in Poland and China,” he said.
The club’s Technical Adviser, Bala Abubakar, said he had been given a clear mandate to return Wikki Tourists to the NPFL and was working towards achieving the objective.
Abubakar disclosed that he inherited a depleted squad, with only 11 players remaining out of the 40 who featured for the club last season.
He said the technical crew had since recruited qualified players to rebuild the team, expressing confidence that the club would be competitive with the support of its management and supporters.
“I met a team with only 11 players out of the 40 that played last season. We have since recruited qualified players, and with the support of management and the supporters club, Bauchi is in for a competitive NNL season,” he said.
The Chairman of the Wikki Tourists Supporters Club, Garba Gamawa, pledged maximum cooperation from supporters, saying the peaceful conduct of the club’s recent election had provided a fresh foundation for unity and collective commitment to the team’s success.
Earlier, the State Chairman of SWAN, Bala Bawaji, said the forum was designed to provide sports stakeholders with an opportunity to present their plans, challenges and expectations.
He explained that SWAN engaged the club’s management and technical crew to understand their level of preparation, operational challenges and areas requiring support as they prepared for the 2026/2027 NNL season.
Bawaji said sports journalists, as partners in sports development, would deploy their platforms to inform, educate and promote the club while holding relevant stakeholders accountable throughout the season.
The forum also provided SWAN members with an opportunity to interact with Wikki Tourists officials and seek clarification on issues relating to football administration and sports development in Bauchi State.
