Scorchers’ duo clinch DRC title
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-based Malawian women’s football stars Chimwemwe Madise and Sabina Thom on Monday helped their club FCF Mazembe retain the Congolese Women’s Championship.
The Lubumbashi-based outfit sealed their third title on the trot on Monday after a 3-1 victory over FCF Amani and, with it, a $10 000 (about K17. 5 million) prize to be shared by the players.
To add extra spice, the club’s owner Moise Katumbi gave them $20 000 as a token of appreciation.
For their feat, the Lubumbashi-based giants will compete in the 2024/25 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The Scorchers duo played an integral part in the campaign after featuring in almost every match.
In Monday’s final, Madise played the entire match while her compatriot Thom was thrown in as a second half substitute.
In an interview yesterday, Madise said she was excited to win the title in her debut season.
She said: “It’s not easy to win the national title because the format is complicated. After competing at provincial level, it goes to the round of 16 and then all the way to the final.
“It is a marathon, so we are excited. It means a lot to us and who knows, playing in the CAF tournament could open more doors for us.”
Meanwhile, the duo was expected to arrive in the country yesterday for a three-week break before returning to Lubumbashi to start preparations for the continental showpiece.
Madise joined CFC Mazembe from Zambian side Elite Ladies in May this year while Thom joined in June last year from MDF Lionesses.
Olympique Club Lubumbashi City, also known as OCL City, from the Haut-Katanga Province, holds the most titles in this competition, having won five since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
In April this year, another Malawian female football star Mary Chavinda inspired her Rwandan top-flight side Rayon Sports Women to win the Peace Cup when she scored a brace in their 2-0 win over Fatima Women FC in the final.
Other foreign-based players on the continent are Vanessa Chikupira and Ireen Khumalo, who play for Green Buffaloes of Zambia as well as Emily Jossam of Zesco also in Zambia.
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo said in an interview yesterday that they are proud of the foreign-based players’ exploits.
She said: “Almost all our girls are representing us well out there. They are flying the country’s flag high and we have every reason to believe that we are ready to shine at continental level.”
