Malawi women’s football superstar Tabitha Chawinga has confirmed her return to the Scorchers after almost two years for the Cosafa Women’s Championship in Gqeberha, South Africa, from October 22 to November 2.
However, the Ballon d’ Or nominee will only be available for the group stages as she has to return to her base in France for club engagement at Olympique Lyonnais Féminin soon after the close of the Fifa Women football international window which starts from October 21 and closes on October 30.
Football Association of Malawi competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview confirmed that Tabitha, who has in the past been called into Scorchers squad but never made it due to club commitments, will captain the side in South Africa.
He said: “It’s confirmed. Tabitha will be available for the Cosafa Women’s Championship. But she will not finish the tournament as she has to return after Fifa window.”
Chawinga was last part of the Scorchers squad in 2022 Cosafa Women’s Championship but she also only played in the group stages, scoring three goals before returning to Italy after joining Inter Milan Feminine on loan from Chinese outfit Wuhan Jiangda.
Her return to Scorchers, which coincides with her Ballon d’ Or nomination, is a boost for the Scorchers’ quest to defend the regional title which they won last year.
Apart from Tabitha, the foreign legion also has France-based Montpellier midfielder Rose Kabzere, Tabitha’s US-based red-hot sister Temwa (Kansas City), Democratic Republic of Congo-based pair of Sabina Thom and Chimwemwe Madise, Rwanda-based Mary Chavinda as well as Vanessa Chikupila, Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Irene Khumalo who ply their trade in Zambia.
Zakazaka said Thom, Madise, Chikupila, Mkandawire and Khumalo also confirmed their availability while Temwa, Kabzere and Chavinda are yet to do so.
Meanwhile, coach Lovemore Fazili says camping for local players started well on Saturday at Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre.
He said: “We started camp on Saturday with the medical check-ups and the other medical issues. Then on Sunday we were on the ground. Our main focus is on the local players since we only have them at the moment.”
