On Wednesday evening, goalkeeper Braddy Jeans Wokorach announced his departure from NEC FC, much to the public’s surprise, for a player who was expected to stay at the club he helped promote to the top division, for at least the next one season.
Wokorach still had one year left on his two-years contract with the Bugolobi-based StarTimes Uganda Premier League (UPL) club, but he just signed out instead!
“Thank you for all the memories NEC FC. I can only say I’m proud of the chance I had to represent the club and I would like to wish the club the best of luck in the future, And to my teammates and the fans, thank you for your endless support and love. May we meet again,” Wokorach posted on his social media platforms.
The custodian’s statement is one that expresses mixed feelings of gratefulness, and discontentment at the same time.
Well, massive changes, in the set-up of Ugandan football, and even elsewhere are always inevitable, mostly when there’s an elevation of the team from one level to another, and even more where there’s a change of coaches or management. But atleast, they always make sure to keep their best players.
For Wokorach, he still maintains it was the utmost resolution for him and the club to part ways.
“We mutually agreed to part ways with the club. I am free agent now. And I am ready for a new chapter in my career,” Wokorach stressed to TheSportsNation.
“I wish NEC the very best in the future. I left in good terms, no strings attached. I only respected the club’s decision and I also decided on what’s best for my career,” the goalkeeper further reiterated.
At NEC last season, the goalkeeper kept nine cleansheets in eighteen games, accounting for ten wins, five draws and only three loses, conceeding just eleven times in the process.
Wokorach, without a doubt, was NEC’s best goalkeeper. Very vital! He was their number one custodian throughout their campaign to attain top flight football status. Statistically, he was also among one of the best goalkeepers in the whole FUFA Big League.
That is why, the fact that the club did not have him in their plans puzzled him – he was understandably baffled why a team would drop their best asset in goal – tried, tested and proven, while at the same time accommodating their lesser needed options for the new season, at a new level bigger than the previous one!
“I know there are alot of changes happening at the club, and I think it was an agreement between the management and the coaches, but sadly for me, I did not get the chance to even meet the new coaches, maybe they would have outlined to me their plans for the new season, and I would have understood them,” Wokorach remarked.
The goalkeeper clearly wasn’t impressed with the club management’s explanations that seemed to suggest that the new coaches did not require his services, since they made acquiring a new first choice goalkeeper a priority upon agreeing to manage the team.
Upon promotion of the team to the UPL, NEC hired the services of former Blacks Power and Arua Hill head coach coach Hussein Mbalangu to take on the same role at the club, to be assisted by former Calvary and Onduparaka tactician Dudu Bosco.
The two tacticians have been setting up a (new) team for the new season, and apparently, various reports are pointing to former Onduparaka and Calvary goalkeeper Norman Angufindru as the ultimate target for the major goalkeeping role at the Mbalangu-headed side.
Meanwhile, Mbalangu’s NEC have kicked off their preseason training as they prepare for the new challenge ahead, as Wokorach continues his hunt for a new club, counting on his good numbers to land a good deal elsewhere.
