On a chilly Thursday evening at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo, NEC Football Club secured a narrow but crucial 2-1 victory over Kitara with goals from the ever-reliable Muzamir Mutyaba and team captain Marvin Kavuma.
The win under the guidance of head coach Hussein Mbalangu was celebrated by the NEC faithful, yet post-match discussions were quickly overshadowed by controversy.
The flashpoint came midway through the second half when referee Dick Okello issued a straight red card to NEC midfielder Enock Ssebagala. To many, the decision was a shock to Mbalangu, it was an injustice.
“They fouled Ssebagala first but the referee didn’t call it,” Mbalangu said passionately in a post-match interview. “Instead, he reacts to the second challenge and sends him off. Is that fairness?”
It wasn’t just a moment of frustration; it was a message. Mbalangu, never one to shy away from voicing his truth continued with a fiery tone; “I don’t care, let a team win through hard work not by being supported. That’s not football. I am someone who is transparent and humble but we need fairness. People invest a lot of money into this sport. They deserve better than this.”
His words sparked debate. While some applauded his courage to speak up, others felt his comments crossed the line. The tension lingered until Tuesday morning.
Speaking to CK Sports just days after the incident, Mbalangu extended an olive branch, offering a sincere apology but without backing down from the essence of his message.
“As Mbalangu, I was not happy after the game,” he admitted. “But as you know, in our Islamic religion, usually someone does not get annoyed for more than three days. So, if the three days are over, then it is also done.”
In a tone far calmer than the night at Lugogo, the NEC coach acknowledged the potential impact of his words: “I apologise to anyone that I annoyed on that day. And I wouldn’t say that what I said was wrong. It was right.”
Mbalangu then touched on the larger context, the precarious nature of coaching in Ugandan football and beyond.
“Our coaching profession is delicate. A lot of people lose their jobs in such circumstances. And at the end of the day, we all have families, and those families are affected when we get to lose these jobs in such circumstances.”
His conclusion was humble and human. “So, I’m absolutely sorry to whoever it did wrong. Yeah, and we move on.”
NEC prepares to face a tough challenge away at table leaders Vipers Sports Club in Kitende this Thursday, all eyes will be on the team but also on Mbalangu and his side if they will manage to go top of the Uganda Premier League.
