Katsina United have announced that they will resume pre-season training on Monday, 7 July 2025, in preparation for the upcoming 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign. The Shanji Boys have confirmed the retention of 23 squad members from last season, signalling continuity and stability ahead of the new season.
Plans indicate that players will return strictly by invitation, according to the club’s management a strategy meant to maintain discipline and ensure an orderly build-up to competitive fixtures. Katsina State’s sports ministry has backed this approach, emphasising that only invited players should report for training.
Last season, the team finished 15th in the NPFL, avoiding relegation. With the same core group returning, coach Henry Makinwa aims to improve on that position by combining experience with fresh talent. Matches from previous seasons have shown the team’s capacity, including a notable goalless draw against Remo Stars and a fighting win over Kano Pillars.
Editorial
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We applaud Katsina United’s disciplined and focused approach to preparation. Setting a firm training start date and asking players to return by invitation demonstrates ambition rooted in structure. This level of organisation often separates promotion contenders from mid-table teams.
Maintaining 23 players offers both continuity and a solid foundation of club culture. These men know the stadium, the tactics, and each other which should accelerate pre-season cohesion. It also suggests trust in those who helped avoid relegation last term, reinforcing a culture of loyalty and internal belief.
Avoiding complacency will be key. Finishing 15th sets a baseline but meaningful progress will require strategic enhancements. The policy of onboarding new players selectively suggests the club plans to plug weaknesses without disrupting harmony. That is the kind of targeted thinking we admire.
As coach Makinwa rebuilds in a structured, measured way, the club’s chances of climbing the table rise. This isn’t merely about retaining players it’s about building a forward-facing identity. And if they stick to a disciplined regime and build smartly around this core, we expect Katsina United could transform into genuine challengers next term.
Did You Know?
- Katsina United, nicknamed “The Changi Boys”, was founded in 1994 and plays home games at the 35,000-capacity Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina State.
- The club spent several years in Nigeria’s lower divisions before rebranding from Spotlights FC to Katsina United in 2016, earning promotion back to the NPFL the same year.
- After starting the 2024–25 campaign poorly, they rallied in April, beating Kano Pillars 1–0 and holding Remo Stars to a 0–0 draw.
- Katsina United finished 15th in the 2024–25 NPFL, successfully avoiding relegation in a season defined by tight margin.
- The club are managing player returns via invitation ahead of the new season an approach aimed at increasing focus and discipline, as confirmed by the sports ministry.
