Kaddu quietly silences critics with NEC’s impressive run

Uganda Premier League

Tuesday Result

NEC 0 UPPC 0

At 8pm

KCCA V Express

Tactician Badru Kaddu is gradually proving his critics wrong since taking charge of NEC FC following the departure of former head coach Hussein Mbalangu, who left the Bugolobi-based club last November after a disappointing start to the current campaign.

Under Mbalangu, NEC had built a reputation for playing a physical and aggressive brand of football, often relying on intensity and strength to overwhelm opponents.

When Kaddu arrived, however, many questioned whether he could maintain the standards set by his predecessor, particularly given his preference for a possession-based style centred on passing and patient build-up play.

There were also doubts about how long it would take him to reshape the squad he inherited and whether the players would adapt to his football philosophy.

However, Kaddu has steadily begun to imprint his ideas on the team. One of his first moves was to reinforce the squad with players he was already familiar with from his time at Express. These include Richard Basangwa, Rashid Kawawa, Muhammad Ssenoga Kagawa, Daniel Shabene, Hakim Wandera and Ramzey Kawooya. Others brought in from different clubs include Tonny Atukunda and Samuel Ssekamatte.

The new arrivals have blended well with players who were already at the club, such as Joseph Seremba, Marvin Kavuma, Joseph Dhata, Innocent Media, Shamir Kimwero and Hannington Ssebwalunyo, among others.

The growing chemistry within the squad has translated into impressive performances on the pitch, with NEC currently emerging as one of the most in-form sides in the Uganda Premier League (UPL).

Since suffering a 2-1 defeat to KCCA last December, NEC have embarked on an impressive 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, registering seven wins and five draws. Overall, Kaddu has taken charge of 17 matches since making his debut and has lost only twice, against SC Villa and KCCA, both by identical 2-1 scorelines.

On Tuesday, NEC recorded their 10th consecutive league match without defeat after a goalless draw with Entebbe UPPC at the Omondi Stadium in Lugogo. The result lifted NEC to seventh place on the table with 31 points, while the team has also progressed to the Uganda Cup round of 16.

The current form suggests the players are increasingly comfortable under Kaddu’s leadership. Despite the encouraging run, Kaddu insists his team is still far from the level he wants to achieve.

“We are still operating at 35 percent. We have not yet achieved what we want because if you want to become a big team, you have to control games, something which we are still lacking. At times our opponents play better than us. My hope is that with time they will learn what I want and put it into practice,” Kaddu said.

Kaddu previously coached Express and also served as one of Mike Mutebi’s assistants at KCCA during their successful spell between 2017 and 2020. During that period, the club won two league titles and two Uganda Cups, and also made history by becoming the first Ugandan side to reach the CAF Champions League group stages in 2018