`Tabitha lives dream

Malawi National Women’s Football Team star Tabitha Chawinga has reached another milestone in her career after signing a three-year deal with French Women’s Football League champions Olympique Lyonnais Feminin.

A message on her facebook Page, reads: “Deal done till 2027.”

Tabitha’s manager Tiana Msolomba in an interview yesterday confirmed the deal, saying Lyon have paid her former Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda an undisclosed fee to secure her signature.

She said: “Lyon has bought her. She has now permanently left her Chinese club on a transfer that was negotiable considering that she was in her last six months of her contract with the club.”

Commenting on her decision not to sign for PSG where she starred on loan the past season, the manager said the Scorchers captain has been offered a lucrative deal.

“Lyon have offered a good contract. She is one of the highest paid players at the club. She also wants to play with top players and feels that can offer her a better chance to win the Champions League as well as win the Ballon d’or,” said Msolomba.

She said Tabitha will return home before joining the team’s training on August 1.

Football Association of Malawi competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said in an interview yesterday this was a good move.

“It’s a big move for her considering the history of Lyon who are the most successful team in Uefa Women’s Champions League. It’s good for her career that she has made a permanent move to Europe as her two previous stints were on loan,” he said.

 In a separate interview, National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo also said the move will inspire more Malawian players.

Last season at PSG, she won Player of the Season and Golden Boot awards, as well as making it into the Uefa Women’s Best XI.

 In 2022, she also won the Golden Boot while on loan at Inter Milan in Italy. The former DD Sunshine player has also played in Sweden.