Mtawali lauds ‘genius’ Tabitha

Former France-based Malawian footballer Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali has hailed women’s football icon Tabitha Chawinga as an above board genius.

Ironically, the Scorchers captain is also starring for French women’s top-flight league side Paris Saint Germain (PSG), where she has been named Women’s Player of the Season and is on the verge of sealing the golden boot accolade.

Mtawali, the only Malawian to have played in one of the top five leagues in Europe after turning out for Toulouse in French Ligue 1 in the late 1990s, said the Scorchers captain deserves special recognition.

Said the South Africa-based former Flames coach and midfielder: “It’s not easy to be exceptional at top level in three or four different countries, especially in Europe, as she has done.

“It takes a lot of discipline, hard work, dedication and sacrifice and she has all that. You have to be on your toes all the time.”

Mtawali, who also had stints in the top Argentine and Saudi Arabian leagues while with Newell’s Old Boys and Al Wehda respectively, believes that Tabitha is among the best in the world.

He said: “Of course, she has not won the CAF Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year Award and the Cosafa Women’s Best Women’s Footballer, but her achievements in Italy, France, China and Sweden speak otherwise.

“Maybe she is betrayed by the Malawi National Women’s Football Team’s struggles on the big stage, but to me I rate her as being among the top five in the world.”

Mtawali, who became the first foreigner to be crowned South African Footballer of the Year in 1985, said he spoke to Tabitha earlier in the week just to encourage her.

“It felt good getting in touch with her, she has a touching humility and I wished her all the best,” he said.

On her part, Tabitha said it was an honour to get a call from Mtawali.

“He is a legend who played at the top level, including here in France and to get advice and word of encouragement from him was big boost,” she said.