NEC FC head coach Hussein Mbalangu has set a bold target for his side, to win all their remaining matches and hope for a twist in the title race, beginning with Friday’s clash against bottom-placed Mbale Heroes at Lugogo.
NEC currently sit second on the league table with 51 points, trailing leaders Vipers by eight points. The gap widened after NEC fell to the Venoms in their previous outing.
“We have to make sure that we win all our remaining games if we are to think of winning the title. We have not yet lost hope,” noted Mbalangu who was earlier fined shs 1m by FIFA Disciplinary Committee in what they termed as violating the competition rules.
On paper, NEC are clear favourites going into the fixture. Their visitors, Mbale Heroes, have struggled all season, winning only two of their matches and languishing at the bottom of the 16-team log. Their last trip to Lugogo ended in a 5-0 thrashing by KCCA, and they’ll be desperate to avoid a similar embarrassment under the Friday night lights.
However, NEC will be without key players, with Gideon Odong joining Enock Ssebagala on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the loss to Vipers.
Despite the absentees, Mbalangu will expect his side to step up and keep their slim promotion hopes alive.
