Tabitha plans big

France-based women’s football superstar Tabitha Chawinga says she wants to help fellow Malawian female players to clinch deals with big clubs in Europe.

The Scorchers captain said this in an interview with Forbes soon after completing her three-year deal with French women’s top-flight champions Olympique Lyonnais Feminin.

She said: “I want to help Malawian players to come here in Europe and join big clubs so that we can build a good national team.

“I hope to inspire others from Malawi to follow in my footsteps.

“I am here not just for myself, but also to represent my country and show the new generations that it’s possible to believe in their dreams and make them come true as I have done.”

National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adelaide Migogo said the move would help transform women’s football.

She said: “Tabiha has made it big in women’s football and she is a global brand.

“She is such a big brand that if she can tell some teams that we have good players in Malawi capable of making the grade in Europe, they will take her seriously considering where she  is coming from.

“It would really boost the performance of the Scorchers and increase our chances of qualifying for big tournaments such as the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and even the World Cup.”

Apart from Tabitha and her sister Temwa, who plays for Kansas City Current in the US National Women’s Soccer League, the Scorchers have seven other foreign-based players, who turn out for top clubs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Rwanda.

Sabina Thom and Chimwemwe Madise play for TP Mazembe in DRC, Mary Chabvinda plays for Rwandan outfit Rayon Sports.

 In Zambian women’s top league, there are five Malawian players, namely, Vanessa Chikupira and Ireen Khumalo (Green Buffaloes), Emily Jossam (Zesco) and MadyinaNgulube (Elite Ladies).