Tabitha engages extra gear in golden boot chase

 France-based Malawian women’s football icon Tabitha Chawinga has engaged an extra gear in the chase for the French women’s top-flight league golden boot, having taken her tally to 13 on Saturday.

The Scorchers skipper, who is enjoying a rich streak of form, scored a brace for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) as they beat Le Havre FC 4-0.

Having caught up with Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg on 11 goals a fortnight ago, Tabitha has now gone two clear at the summit of the scorers’ chart.

To put an icing on the cake, she is also joint top on assists with Lyon’s Kadidiatou Diani with eight apiece.

In a match monitored on PSG TV, the 27-year forward struck the second and third goals to virtually

 seal the Parisians’ victory.

She struck her first goal in the 46th minute before claiming a brace in the 75th minute when she beat a Le Havre defender and then did the rest to perfection with a sublime finish.

In a post-match interview, Tabitha, who is on course for a second successive golden boot in a different top European league, having won it with Italian Serie A side Inter Milan last season, said she is happy that they are closing in on Lyon.

She said: “In whatever we do now, our focus is to close the gap with Lyon and we can only do that by scoring goals and winning games. So, yes, I am happy.

“On the chase for the golden boot, I am delighted that I am at the top now and I thank God for His blessings, but we still have some couple of games to go. So, let’s see how it goes.”

PSG remain second in the 12-team league with 51 points from 16 matches, five points behind Lyon who have a game in hand.

National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo said she is optimistic that Tabitha will win the golden boot.

“It won’t be easy, but she has taken her game to another level and has been very consistent. I don’t doubt her capabilities,” she said