The lights will be shining bright at Lugogo on tonight as the diehards roll out to face URA FC in what feels like a proper old-school reunion in the “Slaughterhouse” of the capital. A familiar face now wearing different colours – that alone guarantees a few extra sparks when the whistle blows.
The New NEC FC
We head into this one flying. Since that single slip against KCCA back on 12 December, the boys have refused to lose in the league – eleven games unbeaten and counting.
The Stanbic Uganda Cup run was pure pride too: three straight victories without conceding a single goal in normal time, four clean sheets in four matches, and Ssebwalunnyo Hannington standing like a rock between the posts. We only bowed out on penalties to Vipers, but the message was loud and clear – this NEC side is built different right now.
About URA
URA will come here with their chests puffed after knocking out KCCA in the cup, and they’ll fancy their chances of spoiling the party. Fair play to them. But we’re at home, we’re in rhythm, and the hunger is real. Sitting 7th on 34 points, three points tonight would shoot us straight into the top five and open up a gap on Entebbe UPPC before they even kick a ball against Lugazi on Friday. That’s the target. Simple.
Head-to-Head
02/10/2025 – URA FC 1-1 NEC FC, 24/05/2025 – NEC FC 1-0 URA FC, 05/12/2024 – URA FC 1-1 NEC FC, 16/04/2024 – URA FC 2-0 NEC FC, 06/12/2023 – NEC FC 2-0 URA FC
Three of the last five have been decided by one goal or ended level, and when we’ve hosted them at Lugogo we’ve kept the sheet clean more often than not. History is on our side, but we’re not living in the past – we’re writing the next chapter tonight. The boys are ready. Let’s get the three points and keep this momentum rolling.
Hussein Mbalangu;
When Coach Hussein Mbalangu first walked through the gates at NEC FC, no one could have predicted the unforgettable chapter he was about to write in our young top-flight history.
It was our very first season in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League — a brand-new journey for the Diehards. Under his guidance, we didn’t just survive; we dared to dream. Against all odds, Mbalangu led us all the way to the final of the 50th edition of the Uganda Cup. The entire nation watched as this newly-promoted side marched onto the biggest stage domestic football had ever seen. We fell short against Kitara in the final, but that magical run etched our name into the record books forever. For the first time in club history, NEC FC stood on the threshold of silverware. That final wasn’t just a match — it was proof that we belonged.
The second season? Pure magic. With the same calm authority and tactical sharpness, Coach Mbalangu guided us to an incredible second place in the league. Second. In only our second year at the top table. The Diehards were no longer the new kids on the block; we were genuine title contenders, playing with belief, organisation, and that never-say-die spirit that became our trademark — all while proudly wearing our orange and green colours.
And then came the ultimate reward: qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup. We stepped onto the continental stage for the first time, representing Uganda with pride. In the playoff round, we fought tooth and nail, earning two hard-fought draws and scoring three goals across the tie. It wasn’t quite enough to advance, but those 180 minutes showed the rest of Africa that NEC FC had arrived — and we were serious.
Three landmark moments. Three reasons why Hussein Mbalangu will always be remembered as one of the architects of our modern story.
Today, as we welcome his URA FC side to the MTN Omondi Stadium Lugogo — the very place he famously named “The Slaughterhouse” — we pause to celebrate the man who helped build this club into contenders. Thank you, Coach. The Diehards will never forget what you did here. Diehards till the end.
What Coach KB says:
The game kicks off at 8PM with tickets at UGX 10,000 and UGX 50,000 for Standard and VIP respectively.