In the recent history of Nigerian professional football league, ABS FC stands out not only in the professionalism of its management and the tenacity of its players as evidenced in its streak of professional achievements, but importantly as the only privately owned and managed football club successfully campaigning at the nation’s prestigious Premier League. ABS FC holds its founding to the passion
for the game of football and the vision of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, currently a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Executive Governor of Kwara State. And it all started in 2004 when on weekends, His Excellency, members of his cabinet and other top ranking government functionaries came together to play football at the open field within the Government House, Ilorin. It was an initiative of a Personal Assistant to His Excellency, Alhaji Abdul Adama, as a platform of recreation and keeping fit. Dr. Saraki was personally a founding player as he actively led the game and captained his side. Within a short period of time, the initiative became very popular attracting larger turnout that could not be contained at the open field of the State House and the venue was shifted to the nearby expansive football pitch at Kwara Hotel, where the session was opened to members of the public. With new members and success of the initiative, it was formally launched as a football club and named Bukola Babes Football Club. Young players were encouraged to join the team as it was gradually evolving into an official football club. Coach Festus Allen was the first substantive and professional coach contracted to handle the new football club, and Alhaji Abdul Adama, the brain behind the initiative, was named the team manager. The name, Bukola Babes was chosen then as an appreciation of the goodwill enjoyed by the club from Dr. Bukola Saraki who encouraged the initiative and participated as a player at its founding. In furtherance of his goodwill to the football club, Dr. Saraki extended the State Government’s Economic Empowerment Programme to the club by encouraging more youths to join the club and placing them on monthly stipends, which was intended to assist the young players towards their education careers aside playing football. On August 15th, 2004, the new football outfit played its maiden football match at Ganmo, Kwara State against SS Ajao Football Club. Subsequently, garland of laurels started trailing Bukola Babes FC as the club kept on winning matches after matches both locally and nationally, starting with the trophy the club won at “Oro 2006” organized by Oro Community in Kwara State. The club was led to the competition by Coach Daniel Azera, who replaced Coach Festus Allen that left the team for Ranchers’ Bee FC. Under Coach Azera, Bukola Babes Football Club won the Kwara State Challenge Cup back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. This was a motivation that propelled the club to a successful entrance into the Nigerian National Amateur League Division Two in 2007. In 2007/08 season, the club was again promoted to the Division One of the National Amateur League. By 2008/09 season, Coach Festus Allen returned to replace Coach Azera and he made history with the club when Bukola Babes FC was promoted to the nation's Professional League. This promotion is a testament to the vision of its proprietor, His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the commitment of the team management led by the chairman, Alhaji Abdul Adama, the professionalism of the technical team and of course, the tenacity of its motivated players. In its first year at the professional league, the club won Kwara FC Cup after beating highly rated Kwara United 4-3 to lift the trophy. Bukola Babes FC was again promoted to the national apex football league, Nigeria Premier League, after it finished as a runner-up in the 2009/10 National League Group B. The exploits of club have sufficiently impressed and won thousands of fans and supporters of Nigeria Premier League. They name the club “Giant Killer” for defeating established and virtually all the top teams in the league. On 24th December, 2011, the club was renamed Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club, ABS FC. This was intended to infuse more professionalism into its management and structure to reflect the present status of the club. His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki is the proprietor and the Grand Patron of the club. The structure and administration of the team are manned by seasoned and thorough technical and management team. Patrick Ify Awajah is the Technical Adviser supported by coaches led by Head Coach, Festus Allen. Because of its exploits on the football field, ABS FC remains a darling of football fans and its supporters’ base is widening day-in day-out. The club has attracted and still attracting sponsorships including the recent kitting of the team by international sports apparel manufacturer, PUMA. Also, ABS FC is in negotiations with other sponsors for different aspects of its management. It is the intention of ABS FC to build even a larger supporters base and reward all fans who are the sources of our motivation as a professional football club.
