Kitara FC vs NEC FC – Preview, Team News, Stats and Prediction

Saturday, May 9
Kitara FC vs NEC FC, 4pm – Butema

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Team News

NEC FC: The visitors will be without Gideon Odongo, Emmanuel Ajo, and Allan Mugalu.

Forward Richard Basangwa returns to the squad, with head coach Badru Kaddu confirming that he will start. Midfielder Tonny Atukunda is also back after missing the previous league match against BUL FC through suspension.

Kitara FC: The hosts will only miss goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige, who is serving a two-match suspension. The rest of the squad is available for selection.

Preview: Kitara FC Eye Victory to Close Gap on Leaders

Kitara FC return to Uganda Premier League action on Saturday when they host NEC FC at Butema, aiming for victory that would move them within three points of league leaders Vipers SC.

The Royals come into the game after a goalless draw against Vipers SC in their previous outing, while NEC FC head into the clash fresh from a 1-0 victory over BUL FC in Njeru.

Following Vipers SC’s 1-1 draw with URA FC on Friday evening, Kitara FC have an opportunity to move to 57 points with a win, just three behind the Venoms with three matches left to play.

In the reverse fixture, George Ssenkaaba scored a brace while Gaddafi Wahab added another as Kitara FC came from behind to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against NEC FC at Lugogo.

Emmanuel Kulanga, Joseph Dhata, and Joseph Sseremba scored NEC FC’s goals in that encounter.

Goalkeeper Hannington Sebwalunyo heads into the game highly motivated after winning the Real Stars Monthly Award for the best footballer in April following a series of impressive performances.

The experienced shot-stopper kept six clean sheets and scored two winning goals as NEC FC registered identical 1-0 victories over URA FC and Mbarara City FC.

NEC FC are unbeaten this year and have now kept 12 consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, underlining their defensive solidity.

Kitara FC, meanwhile, have scored only four goals in their last six matches across all competitions and failed to score in four of those games.

The Royals are also winless in their last five meetings against NEC FC, losing four and drawing one. Their only victory over NEC FC came in December 2023 courtesy of Jude Ssemugabi’s lone goal.

A win for NEC FC would move them to 50 points, just five behind second-placed KCCA FC.

Pre-match Interviews

Wasswa Bbosa – Kitara FC Assistant Coach

“We are facing a tough side, and we respect them, but we have a good opportunity to win this game since we are playing at home. We know what it means for us to close the gap at the top, and I call upon our fans to come and support us on Saturday.”

Badru Kaddu – NEC FC Head Coach

“We are aiming to finish in the top positions, and we can only achieve that by winning games. We expect a physical match because that is part of football, but we want to keep another clean sheet and ensure that we get a positive result at the end of the game.”

Stats – Previous Meetings

Kitara FC – 1 Win
Draws – 1
NEC FC – 4 Wins

Prediction: Kitara FC 1-0 NEC FC