Mukasa Demands More from NEC Despite Perfect Start

NEC FC head coach Badru Kaddu Mukasa has praised his players for their clinical finishing but warned that greater consistency and concentration will be required if the side is to turn its perfect start into a genuine title challenge. Mukasa was speaking after NEC overcame Lugazi FC 3-1 at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, to make it two victories from their opening two Uganda Premier League matches.

The result extended NEC’s impressive start after they opened the campaign with a 2-0 victory over 13-time champions KCCA, but Mukasa was far from completely satisfied with the performance. While the three points were welcomed, the coach recognised that his team struggled to impose itself during the opening 45 minutes, with Lugazi’s tactical approach disrupting NEC’s rhythm and preventing the hosts from playing with the fluency they had shown in their opening fixture.

The second half, however, produced a marked improvement as NEC found greater rhythm, moved the ball with more purpose and became increasingly effective in the decisive areas of the pitch. Their ability to convert the opportunities created ultimately proved the difference, allowing the hosts to score three times and secure another important victory despite the difficulties encountered earlier in the game.

For Mukasa, the most encouraging element was NEC’s efficiency in front of goal. In a league where opportunities can be limited in tightly contested matches, the ability to punish opponents when chances arise can become an important weapon, and NEC demonstrated that quality against Lugazi. The coach nevertheless believes clinical finishing must be accompanied by a much higher overall performance level if the team is to sustain its ambitions throughout the campaign.

“I am happy because the boys have taken away the chances that were created. We scored more goals and that is very good,”

Mukasa said.

The NEC coach also acknowledged that his players took time to adjust to Lugazi’s approach, with the first half providing an important reminder that strong starts cannot be taken for granted. Rather than simply relying on individual quality to unlock opponents, Mukasa wants his team to develop the tactical flexibility and composure required to deal with different styles of play over the course of a 90-minute contest.

“We looked to be struggling in the first half with the style of play. However, in the second we found our rhythm, but we still expect much from the boys,”

he said.

The three goals may have provided the headline, but Mukasa was equally concerned by the manner in which NEC allowed Lugazi back into the contest. A defensive lapse gave the visitors a route into the match and served as a warning that even a team capable of scoring freely can be punished when concentration drops. For a side with ambitions of challenging for silverware, such mistakes could prove far more costly against opponents who are more clinical in front of goal.

“This calls for an improvement from everyone. Winning a title is not easy, but we are up for the task. Conceding carelessly is unacceptable, but these are the challenges we go through,”

Mukasa said.

His comments reflect a broader demand for NEC to develop the mentality required to sustain a title challenge over an entire season. Winning two matches at the beginning of a campaign can create optimism, but maintaining high standards when fixtures become more demanding will require discipline, resilience and the ability to perform consistently regardless of the opponent or circumstances.

NEC’s early results have nevertheless provided a strong foundation. The victories over KCCA and Lugazi have produced six points from a possible six, while the team has already shown two different qualities: the ability to defeat a major opponent through a disciplined display and the capacity to overcome a difficult contest through improved second-half execution.

Mukasa now wants his players to use that perfect start as motivation rather than allowing it to create complacency. With the season still in its early stages, the coach believes the priority should be developing a team capable of competing with character and maintaining its standards from the opening whistle to the final one.

“As a team, we seek to perform better. It’s early days, but we ought to keep working so that we build a strong team with character.”

he added.

For NEC, the message from the technical bench is therefore clear: the six points are valuable, but the performances must continue to improve. If Mukasa can combine the attacking efficiency already evident in the opening two matches with greater tactical control and defensive discipline, NEC could develop into a serious force as the 2026/27 Premier League season gathers momentum.