STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHDAY 28 FIXTURES:
Saturday, May 11, 2024
- NEC FC vs. Vipers SC, MTN Omondi Stadium-Lugogo (4:00 pm)
- URA FC vs. KCCA FC, Muteesa II Stadium-Wankulukuku (4:00 pm)
- Kitara FC vs. Busoga United FC, Masindi Stadium (4:00 pm)
- Maroons FC vs. Soltilo Bright Stars FC, Prisons Ground-Lugazi (4:00 pm)
- BUL FC vs. Gaddafi FC, FUFA Technical Centre-Njeru (4:00 pm)
- Wakiso Giants FC vs. Mbarara City FC, Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium-Wakiso (4:00 pm)
- UPDF FC vs. SC Villa, Bombo Military Barracks Ground (4:00 pm)
Coach Hussein Mbalangu and his NEC FC squad are revving up for an exciting finish to their debut season in Uganda’s top-flight football league. With just two games remaining in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, NEC FC is still in the running for the championship title.
Sitting in sixth place with 44 points from 26 matches, NEC is hot on the heels of joint leaders BUL FC and Vipers SC, trailing by just five points. This Saturday, May 11, promises a thrilling showdown as NEC hosts Vipers in a must-watch match where both teams can’t afford to drop points in the title race.
Meanwhile, the anticipation is building as NEC FC prepares for their first-ever Stanbic Uganda Cup final against Kitara FC, scheduled for May 25 at the Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.
When NEC FC earned promotion to the top division last May, the club’s main goal was to avoid relegation. But now, backed by the army’s entrepreneurship department, they find themselves in contention for a major title under the guidance of Coach Hussein Mbalangu.
Mbalangu wasn’t considered a top-tier coach, but his past roles with Mbarara City FC and Blacks Power FC in the top division gave him valuable experience. Nine months later, he’s surpassed expectations by leading NEC FC to the Uganda Cup final and putting them in contention for the league title.
“Our target was to avoid relegation but we are now in a very good position to even have titles. I salute my staff and the players for their hard work,” Mbalangu emphasized in a recent interview.
Born 46 years ago, Mbalangu made a name for himself as a player in 1999 when SC Villa former coach Paul Hasule (RIP) recruited him from the Butiko clan team. Despite limited ball skills, Mbalangu’s speed and strength caught Hasule’s eye. At SC Villa, he faced tough competition from established strikers like Hassan Mubiru, Andrew Mukasa, and the legendary Magid Musisi for a starting spot.
Indeed, Mbalangu was a game-changer, coming off the bench regularly, scoring crucial goals that helped SC Villa clinch league and Uganda Cup titles between 1999 and 2000.
This rapid rise from amateur tournaments to national recognition defines Mbalangu’s playing career. He swiftly established himself among the country’s top scorers and earned spots on the U-23 and Cranes national teams.
It’s this kind of transformation that mirrors NEC’s remarkable success in just one season.
However, Mbalangu’s time in the spotlight was brief. After leaving SC Villa, he became a journeyman, playing for various teams like Mityana Utoda, Kiyovu Sport in Rwanda, and Kinyara Sugar on short contracts until his retirement in 2010.
Transitioning to coaching, Mbalangu worked with teams in Buganda Kingdom’s Masaza and Bika football tournaments, including Kabula County and Kyaggwe. He also invested time in coaching courses organized by FUFA between 2015 and 2019, earning a CAF ‘A’ coaching license in 2022.