Pigs invade pitch during girls’ football match in Mbarara, injure one

There was pandemonium at Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara on Saturday as pigs went loose and ran onto the pitch a couple of times during an all-girls’ football match.

This happened during the fourth edition of the Sseninde Women’s Development cup, a one-day games bonanza aimed at identifying and boosting female soccer talent.

True to this year’s tourney theme; “It is time”, pigs utilized, a stiff end to end soccer play between St Mary’s Vocational and Youth Sports Uganda to break loose and dash onto the pitch, briefly interrupting play as both the animals and the humans on pitch sprinted in different directions.

The play was resumed when the pigs were chased off the pitch in a combined effort by players, officials and fans.

However, no sooner had play resumed, than the pigs tore free from their master and once again sprinted onto the pitch, causing another stampede.

The owner was prompted to chase after them this time, but in the event of stopping one of them, he stepped on the rope tied to the pig, slipped and fell awkwardly, injuring himself.

The animals would later dismiss themselves off the pitch, allowing play to continue, with St Mary’s vocational emerging winner.

However, Kinodoni Girls from Tanzania won the tournament after beating St.Mary's Vocational 3 unanswered goals in the finals.

The championship was started to create opportunities for all women footballers on the grassroots in Uganda to play football and showcase their talents. It was started by Jean Sseninde, a Uganda who plays for Crystal Palace women’s club and the CEO Sseninde Development Foundation.

Unlike in the past three editions, this 4th edition, the best performers were awarded full bursaries from the schools they study from and the clubs shall get playing equipment as the CEO confirmed thus;

“This edition, we going to give some playing equipment to teams and we have bursaries for the best players of this year.”