Tabitha leads scorers chart in China league

Malawi women football export Tabitha Chawinga has set the tone to defend the Golden Boot Award in the Chinese Women’s Super League, where she is leading the scorers’ chart with six goals.

However, there are three others—Pang Fenguye, Bianca and Ma Xuaoxu—breathing down her neck with a goal apiece.

The Malawi national women’s football team captain took her tally to six when she scored the lone goal against Dalian on Friday which was her sixth consecutive goal.

“I thank God Almighty for His blessings, without him I am nothing. My team-mates have also played a big role in all this and I owe it to them and the coaches as well,” she said in an interview yesterday.

Tabitha, however, acknowledged that it will not be easy to retain the golden boot.

“There is stiff competition, but I will keep on working hard to achieve my target of scoring 25 goals.”

Last season the 23-year-old clinched the award with 17 goals.

Her team tops the eight-team Chinese women’s top-flight league with 18 points, having won all their six games.

National women’s football team coach Abel Mkandawire said he has no doubt that the prolific forward will retain the honours. “She is one of the most deadly female forwards in the world,” he said.