URA FC will be out for their first win of the season when they host NEC FC on Thursday night under the floodlights of Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, in a StarTimes Uganda Premier League matchday two encounter at 8pm.
This will be the Tax Collectors’ first home game of the campaign and their second overall, having opened the season with a goalless draw away at BUL FC last Friday.
NEC, meanwhile, will be playing their first league match of the season after missing matchday one due to their CAF Confederation Cup engagements.
Head coach Alex Isabirye expressed belief in his squad but warned that clashes against NEC are never easy.
“It has always been tough facing NEC, but if we are to compete for silverware this season, we must measure ourselves in such games,” said Isabirye during the prematch press conference.
Isabirye also provided team news, confirming that defender Arthur Kiggundu will be sidelined after sustaining an injury against BUL.
“We shall miss Kiggundu who got injured in our first game, but I am confident that players like Hudu Mulikyi and James Begisa are capable of filling the gap,” he noted.
Team skipper Moses Aliro also sounded optimistic, urging his teammates to show unity and determination in their first home fixture.
“We believe in ourselves, and if we put in the hard work together as a team, we can get the positive result we want against NEC,” Aliro stated.
The last league meeting between the two sides at Nakivubo ended 1-1, with Godfrey Ssekibengo scoring for URA before Paul Mucureezi struck late for NEC. Most recently, the teams faced off in the FUFA Super 8 preseason tournament, where NEC triumphed on penalties after a goalless draw in normal time.