Mbalangu on the spot as hapless Heroes visit
Nec head coach Hussein Mbalangu. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
Standing in Mbalangu’s way are Baker Mbowa’s Mbale Heroes - the league’s undisputed sick men. With just two wins from 24 outings, Heroes are anchored to the bottom and staring at the drop.
In a turn of events that has bought him time but not peace, Nec coach Hussein Mbalangu will be present on the touchline at Lugogo on Friday as his side face relegation-threatened Mbale Heroes, following a suspended two-match sanction handed to him by the Fufa Disciplinary Panel.
The ruling stems from his post-match media outburst after Nec’s gritty 2-1 win over Kitara on April 10 at the MTN Omondi Stadium.
During the charged interview, Mbalangu criticized referee Dick Okello for the sending off of midfielder Enock Ssebaggala, a move that violated Article 13 of the Fufa Ethics and Disciplinary Code.
Though spared an immediate touchline ban, Mbalangu was fined Shs1m and now operates under a clear warning - any future misconduct will activate the suspension.
With Nec sitting second on the table with 51 points from 24 matches, the expectations have never been higher.
Already out of the Uganda Cup, the league title is now Mbalangu’s last and only lifeline - and failure to deliver could cast doubt over his tenure.
Facing bottom-of-the-log Mbale Heroes, the directive is unambiguous: victory is non-negotiable.
Anything short of three points against the league’s strugglers would only intensify the scrutiny surrounding his position.
Heroes no more
Standing in Mbalangu’s way are Baker Mbowa’s Mbale Heroes - the league’s undisputed sick men. With just two wins from 24 outings, Heroes are anchored to the bottom and staring at the drop.
Another defeat, their 19th of the season, would all but seal their relegation fate, making today’s clash a do-or-die affair - at least on paper.
Elsewhere, Mbale Heroes' fellow strugglers and immediate neighbors, Soltilo Bright Stars - stuck on 16 points - travel to face Lugazi at Najjembe Stadium, hoping to mount a last-ditch fight for survival.
Meanwhile, at Kavumba Stadium, Police and URA will lock horns in a clash that carries little weight in terms of league consequences, with both sides safely out of the relegation scrap and title race.
StarTimes Uganda Premier league
Friday fixtures
Police vs. URA, 4pm
Lugazi vs. Soltilo Bright Stars, 4pm
Nec vs. Mbale Heroes, 7pm
