Tabitha hungry for more awards
France-based Malawian women’s football icon Tabitha Chawinga has set a new benchmark of excellence by winning the Player of the Season Award in a fourth country.
The Scorchers captain could probably be the only female footballer in the world to achieve that feat, the closest that an athlete comes to walking on water, but the Paris Saint Germain star says she’s not done yet.
Tabitha was named Women’s Player of the Season on Monday night during the French Arkema Women’s First Division Awards Gala in Paris.
This comes after winning similar accolades in Italy’s Feminine Serie A last year, Chinese Women’s Super League in 2018 and 2019 and the Swedish Dammallsvenskan in 2017.
While expressing excitement with her latest feat in an interview yesterday, the 27-year-old said winning the Ballon d’Or is her ultimate goal.
She said: “Coming after winning a similar award in Italy last year, I am so excited, but there are still many things to win, especially the Ballon d’Or.
“With hardwork, determination and God willing, I hope I will be able to win the Ballon d’Or someday. That’s when I will be satisfied.”
The prolific forward, who is on a season-long loan deal from Chinese Super League outfit Wuhan Jiangda, attributed her success this season to God.
Said Tabitha: “He is a God of possibilities and a source of inspiration in everything that I do. He is a God of wonders.
“Let me also appreciate the support and encouragement I get from my teammates and coaches because without them, I couldn’t have achieved this.”
On the way forward, she said: “It’s back to business now. No time to relax. Actually, I am just getting prepared for training as we have the Coupe de France final coming up this Saturday.”
Tabitha dedicated her latest award to the nation, saying: “I have had lots of support from many Malawians and, of course, my family.”
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo said Tabitha has underlined her credentials as one of the best women footballers in the world.
“She continues to put the country on the world map. Her achievements speak for her, it is not easy to be named the best player in two top European leagues successively. She is a role model to the girl child and we are proud of her exploits,” she said.
Meanwhile, the player has also spoken of her frustration after her team’s Uefa Champions League exit through a post on her Facebook page.
PSG bowed out in the semi-finals after losing to fellow French side Lyon 5-3 on aggregate.
“I was so dejected that I even contemplated quitting football. That’s how I hate losing,” she wrote.
Tabitha is also among the three nominees for the Cosafa Women’s Footballer of the Year Award alongside Zambian duo of Rachael Kundananji and Barbara Banda.
