Tabitha targets more goals
France-based Malawi women’s football icon Tabitha Chawinga says she is targeting to score 20 goals or more for her new club Olympique Lyonnais Feminine this season.
The Scorchers captain is set to make her debut for the French women’s top-flight champions this Friday when they face Fleury in their season opener.
In an interview on Monday, the 28-year-old said she is ready to make an immediate impact.
Said Tabitha: “I know there are lots of expectations from me, but I am ready.
“I believe in God and I believe in team work. I believe that with the Almighty God’s grace, anything is possible.
“I value team work a lot and my priority has always been to put the team first.
“So, I believe that I can score 20 goals or even more this season and I have no doubts of achieving that.”
The prolific forward, who is one of the two Africans nominated for the Women’s Ballon d Ór, also said she hopes to help the Les Fenottes retain the French league title and win the Uefa Women’s Champions League.
Said Tabitha: “After playing a couple of pre-season games, I belive I have gelled with my new team-mates and it’s now time to get down to work.”
On whether she is under pressure ahead of her debut, Tabitha said: “Not necessarily, but having won a record eight Champions League titles, Lyon are one of the most successful teams in the world and I have to prove that they didn’t make a mistake to sign me.”
The club’s new manager Joe Montemmuro was quoted by Olympique Lyonnais TV as having said that he expects Tabitha to make a big difference at the club.
“Tabi’s achievements speak for her and I cannot say more. She is a fighter who will definitely add value to the team. She is a genius,” he was quoted as having said.
Lyon have won the French women’s title a record 17 times.
Apart from winning the golden boot last season, Tabitha also won the Best Player Award while on loan at Paris Saint Germain (PSG), who finished second in the league.
She scored 29 goals across all competitions, nine more than her initial target.
The previous season, she also won the Italian Serie A Women’s golden boot with 23 goals, the first African to achieve that feat.
