Tabitha ponders future with Chinese club

Women’s football star Tabitha Chawinga says she is considering her future with Chinese Superleague side Jiangsu Suning due to financial issues.

In an interview on Monday, the reigning Chinese women’s Footballer of the Year said she is not certain if she will return to her club.

Said the Malawi national women’s football team captain: “It appears the club is struggling financially and the issue is getting out of hand now.

“Up to now, I have not been paid my December salary and there has been no clear explanation from management.

“I am a professional player and I prefer to handle issues professionally, but then it seems the team management is not forthcoming to explain all these issues.”

The 24-year-old striker, who still has a year left on her contract, said since she signed a contract with Suning, there has never been a time when she received her perks in accordance with the contract.

“The situation at the club has led to the resignation of the team manager and before I take the next step, I want to talk to our club coach tomorrow [today],” said the prolific forward who, in the recent past, has attracted the interest of top European clubs, including Olympique Lyonnais and PSG.

Tabitha joined Jiangsu Suning from Swedish club Kvarnsvedens in 2018 and took the Chinese women’s football by storm by sweeping individual awards for two years, including Player of the Year and Top Goal Scorer.

She also helped the team to win the league title last year, but they struggled this season when they finished as runners-up to her sister Temwa’s team Wuhan.

After missing out on the league title, Tabitha told The Nation then that: “There is a lot happening behind the scenes, but I will speak out at an appropriate time.”

She is considered as one of the best African women football players, having made the top five list in the previous Confederation of African Football awards’ nominations.

Suning were not available for comment on Monday.