Thursday, October 8
•Blacks Power Vs Vipers – Hoima, 4pm
•NEC Vs Express – Lugogo, 7pm
NEC FC will return to Uganda Premier League action on Thursday when they host Express FC at the Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, with night football set to return to the venue.
The Matchday Five encounter comes after a nearly three-week international break and will be NEC’s first league game since their impressive 4-1 victory over URA FC.
That win extended the Diehards’ unbeaten start to the season and lifted them to second place with 10 points from four matches.
NEC will be aiming to maintain that momentum and collect another three points at home as they continue their push near the top of the table.
The hosts will also welcome back goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo and forward Richard Basangwa, who were part of the Uganda Cranes squad during the international break.
However, NEC will be without Hakim Wandera, who misses the game through injury.
The fixture will also mark the return of floodlit football at Lugogo after FUFA approved the stadium’s floodlights for night matches.
Express, meanwhile, arrive at Lugogo looking for their second win of the campaign.
The Red Eagles have four points from their opening four matches, having won once, drawn once and lost twice. Their last outing ended in a 1-1 draw against Kitara FC at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Coach Morley Byekwaso confirmed that Midfielder Nicholas Jjonga is available for selection while Left back Shafic Batambuze is sidelined with an injury.
Express have scored just three goals in four league games, with their other goal-scoring outing coming in a 2-0 win over KCCA FC.
Thursday’s clash also brings several reunions, with NEC players Richard Basangwa and Muhammed Kagawa having previously featured for Express. Wandera is another former Red Eagles player but will not be involved because of injury.
There will also be a reunion between the coaches, with NEC head coach Badru Mukasa having previously managed Express at the start of last season before switching to the Diehards.
“Once upon a time I was at Express FC, but now I’m in the Diehard family with different objectives. We are focusing on any opponent that comes against us; we have to ensure we get a good result,” Mukasa said.
This will be the seventh league meeting between the two sides. The previous six encounters have been evenly balanced, with NEC winning twice, Express winning twice and the other two ending in draws.
Neither side managed to claim bragging rights last season, with both league meetings ending goalless.
NEC will now look to break that deadlock, preserve their unbeaten start and make their first night game of the season at Lugogo a memorable one.
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