Kaddu: A year as a UPL head coach

By the time coach Badru Kaddu left Express FC earlier this month, they were in a reasonably comfortable position on the Uganda Premier League (UPL) table.

Of the 16 teams in the league, they were eighth on the log after six games, having won two, drawn and lost two games. Conversely, Express had scored seven times and conceded five goals, with a total of eight points.

Incidentally, the table leaders, KCCA FC have scored only eight goals and conceded five, leaving on just 11 points, just three ahead of Express. For an Express fan, they can still comfortably say that their team remains in the title conversation even though at the beginning of the season, hardly anyone ever mentioned them in the championship talk.

At least not as much as NEC FC, who finished second last season with 67 points, two behind the eventual champions, Vipers SC. On Thursday, November 20, NEC, who are twelfth on the log with six points visit the Fufa stadium, Kadiba to take on 17-time record champions SC Villa, who are third with 10 points under the lights.

It will be Kaddu’s second game in charge of NEC, following a one-all draw in his first game, which was against Bul FC. Villa is one of the places Kaddu worked before, as backroom staff of coach Mike Mutebi.

Together, they enjoyed great success at KCCA both domestically and on the continent. However, it has been a year since Kaddu, 55, became a head coach in the UPL for the first time, when he replaced coach Baker Mbowa at Express on October 26, 2024.

For many, Kaddu was an unknown quantity, at least as a head coach. Yet, Kaddu has shown that he is cut for the challenge, and is not the “bag boy” many that saw him at Villa in 2011/12 and at KCCA between 2015 and 2024 may have considered him to be.

Former Cranes player, Mike Mutyaba played under Kaddu at KCCA. Mutyaba said that because Kaddu is not so vocal, many may have confused him for docile. But the bottom-line, according to Mutyaba, is that he is such a gentleman that respects hierarchy.

But within that, Mutyaba revealed that Kaddu does his job well.

“Coach Kaddu is a good teacher,” Mutyaba said. He hastily added: “I know that coach Mutebi used to be the face of KCCA and therefore everything regarding the coaching programme used to go through him. But coach Kaddu was always his trusted steward, that conducted the class lessons, breaking down the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.”

Because of Kaddu’s academic background, he has a knack to explain things clearly for players to understand. While Kaddu is an electrical engineer by profession, trained at Kyambogo University, he has good communication skills and the ability to break down tactics in the simplest way for players according to Mutyaba.

Therefore, at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, coach Mbowa asked his assistant, Mutyaba whom he could recommend to join their coaching staff to support their work at Express.

Mutyaba recalled that once that was the case, he did not hesitate to contact Kaddu because he knew how much value he could add to the club. In fact, despite the difficult financial conditions that were at Express, Kaddu was still able to bring the best out of his charges.

Against all odds, Express beat SC Villa, KCCA and drew with Vipers, while playing some good football on what many considered average players, most of them rejects and from relegated teams. Part of Kaddu’s strong points is human psychology.

He knows how to motivate players to give their all even in the most difficult of circumstances. Yet, Kaddu managed 30 games at Express, winning 13, losing 15 and drawing eight.

Difficulty is what has been the byword at Express for the last four seasons. Since the 2020/21 season in which Express won their seventh league title, the club has been downward spiral.

In the eyes of many, just maintaining the club’s Premier league status is largely what matters. Yet, at the end of the first round last season, Kaddu organized Express well enough to be in the top three sides.

Surprisingly, Express were punching above their weight with barely a team to actually boast about. Those that had predicted Express’ demise were left with egg on their faces, something that Mutyaba attributes to Kaddu’s ability to read opponents, and organize his team to nullify them.

In addition, for a host of players that played under the stewardship of Kaddu at Express got rejuvenated to the shock of many.

A case in point was forward Samuel Ssenyonjo, who had failed at his previous clubs: Wakiso Giants and Soltilo Bright Stars. It is because of the 14 goals that Ssenyonjo scored, that he was able to land a transfer away to Kenyan giants, AFC Leopards.

Others like Richard Basangwa and Rashid Kawawa improved significantly, while Herbert Achayi became a mainstay in Cranes’ Chan team in August. Although midfielder Emmanuel Wasswa did not make the cut for The Cranes team that played in Chan, he attracted the attention of Kitara FC.

His colleague in the engine room, Saidi Kyeyune also moved to Police FC, where it is presumed to be a more financially stable football club. Meanwhile, Kaddu is such an active member in the coaches association of Uganda because of his leadership and management skills.

Football commentator, Collin Subika has worked with Kaddu since the time he was involved in Secondary Schools football. Kaddu is the kind of coach, who has come through the ranks, and because of his dedication to detail, patience with players, to allow them develop, he was Mutebi’s right-hand man for a long time.

Commonly referred to as Kalusha Bwalya because of his name initials, Subika, on the other hand refers to Kaddu as Txiki Begiristain, the former FC Barcelona and Manchester City Director of Football because of his professional approach; his ability to spot talent, but also bring the best out of it. The management of NEC FC will be hoping for the same, as they aim to climb up the league table.