Inter Milan suffer first defeat in Tabitha’s absence

Inter Milan Women’s Football Club suffered their first Italian Women’s Serie A defeat when they went down 2-1 to league leaders Roma without their Malawian star Tabitha Chawinga.

The Scorchers captain has missed two consecutive games due to illness.

She also missed Saturday’s Coppa Italia Cup match against Castelvecchio.

In an interview on Sunday, the Scorchers captain said she is now feeling much better.

Said Tabitha: “Last week I underwent light training and I will resume serious training this week. I should be available for selection in the upcoming game.

“It was disappointing to watch my team suffer their first league defeat, but I guess it’s part of the game.

“We were up against a good team and I do not know whether the result would have been different had I played, but the girls gave out their best.”

Inter are third with 17 points from eight matches, four points short of the league leaders.

Their last first round match will be against Pomigliano on November 19.

The 26-year-old, who was named Serie A Women’s Player of the Month for September, has scored five goals since joining Inter Milan in August on a one-year loan deal from Chinese Superleague side Wuhan Jiangda.

She was also named Best Africa Woman Footballer in Europe in the same month by ESPN sports channel.

Tabitha started her career at Lilongwe-based Central Region Women’s Football League club DD Sunshine, an outfit she currently co-sponsors, before clinching a deal at Swedish side Krokom IF in 2014. Shen moved to Kvamsvedens IK in 2015 where she spent two seasons.

In 2018, she clinched a deal with Chinese Superleague side Jiangsu Suning where she spent two seasons before joining her sister Temwa at Wuhan.

Tabitha has wtice been nominated for the Africa Woman Footballer of the Year Award.