Saulawa Unveils Ambitious Plan to Transform Katsina Football, Declares Bid for KFA Chairmanship

A respected football administrator and stakeholder, Bello Yusuf Saulawa, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the chairmanship of the Katsina State Football Association (KFA), unveiling an ambitious agenda aimed at revitalising football development across the state through grassroots investment, transparency, accountability, and stakeholder welfare.

Announcing his intention to contest the position, Saulawa said his decision was inspired by a deep commitment to the growth of football in Katsina and a determination to reposition the sport in line with modern administrative and developmental standards.

He described football as more than just a game, noting that it remains a powerful platform for youth empowerment, social integration, job creation, and economic growth. According to him, Katsina State is blessed with an abundance of talented young footballers who can excel on national and international stages if given the right opportunities and support.

At the heart of his vision, Saulawa said, is a comprehensive grassroots football development strategy designed to discover, nurture, and promote young talents from every corner of the state.

If elected, he pledged to introduce sustainable youth football programmes, strengthen local leagues, organise regular age-grade competitions, and establish stronger collaboration with schools, community clubs, football academies, coaches, and other stakeholders. He added that his administration would ensure that talent identification and development efforts reach all 34 local government areas of Katsina State.

The KFA chairmanship hopeful also promised to champion a culture of good governance within the association, stressing that fairness, accountability, inclusiveness, and professionalism would guide every decision under his leadership.

According to him, football administration must be driven by integrity and collective responsibility in order to build trust among clubs, players, referees, coaches, administrators, and the wider football community.

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Saulawa further assured stakeholders that transparency would be a defining feature of his administration. He pledged to operate an open-door policy that would guarantee regular engagement with stakeholders while ensuring that financial activities, programmes, and policy decisions are conducted with full accountability.

Recognising the critical role played by those who keep the game running, he vowed to prioritise the welfare of players, coaches, referees, club officials, and football administrators. He argued that improved welfare packages and support systems would boost morale and encourage greater commitment to football development in the state.

Beyond welfare, Saulawa outlined an empowerment-driven agenda focused on capacity building and professional development. He promised to facilitate coaching and refereeing courses, football management workshops, and strategic partnerships with relevant organisations to equip stakeholders with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive within the football ecosystem.

Calling on delegates and members of the football association to rally behind his vision, Saulawa said his administration would work to unite all stakeholders and restore Katsina’s status as one of Nigeria’s foremost breeding grounds for football talent.

He expressed confidence that with collective support, effective leadership, and a shared commitment to progress, football in Katsina could enter a new phase marked by stronger grassroots structures, better welfare programmes, improved administration, and a transparent system capable of delivering lasting benefits for future generations.

“Our state has the talent, the passion, and the potential to become a football powerhouse once again,” Saulawa said. “Together, we can build a football system that creates opportunities for our youths, inspires excellence, and places Katsina firmly on the national football map.”