Goal-scoring bishops excite Lira town

Ankole Diocese Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa is (lifted) in celebration of a goal scored by him. COURTESY PHOTO

We usually see them in their long flowing clerical gowns and imagine that that is all there is to them; reading the bible and preaching the gospel. Many times we forget that before they turned into clerics, they were human and are still human beings like us.

This is what happened in Lira town when religious leaders took to the pitch in a football match against the town’s businessmen. Even before the match kicked off, the spectators had prophesied a loss for the ‘men of God’.

The businessmen’s team, as earlier predicted, scored the first two goals in the match. However, it wasn’t long before the clergy’s team proved that they can do more that interpret Bible scriptures when a one Bishop Alfred Olwa scored a goal. Next was Ankole Diocese Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa who, despite being a right-footed person, scored a goal with his left leg. The goal sent the spectators in an uncontrolled frenzy, cheering on the Bishop, who says that he admires Lionel Messi, one of the best left footed football players of all time.

“I used my left leg to score from beyond the 18 yard box. It was a curling shot (which) went past the goalie overhead to the back of net.  Just like Messi’s finish” Bishop Mwesigwa later boasted after the match.

The match ended in a 2:2 draw. We sure do hope that there is another match. Never know know we just might find Uganda’s Messi in Bishop Mwesigwa.

The Bishops are currently in Lira town visiting Lango Diocese to assist them in improving their education standards in a three day workshop.