US-based Malawi women’s football star Temwa Chawinga has earned a fifth major award nomination for her stellar show this year as she is among 25 Best Women’s Player nominees for the Globe Soccer Awards.
The Kansas City Current prolific forward is one of only two Africans nominated for the award, the other being Zambian star Barbara Banda who also plies her trade in the US National Women’s Soccer League.
The 16th edition of the awards are scheduled for December 28 at the Atlantis The Royal hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
Temwa’s sheer quality has shone brightly this season, having also been nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, Fifa Best Women’s Player, Confederation of African Football (CAF) Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year and NWSL Most Valuable Player, which she won last week.
She is the only African nominee for the Fifa award and alongside Banda, they were the only African women footballers nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
In an interview, Temwa said she feels humbled by the recognition.
She said: “I thank God for all this. As I keep saying, just making the shortlists of these major awards is a big honour on its own because it is not easy, looking at the exceptional talent that is out there.
“Big up to my teammates because without them, I wouldn’t get this recognition. They make me shine. I also thank all those who encourage me.”
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adelaide Migogo said it is not surprising that Temwa keeps on being nominated for major awards.
“It is sheer testimony that our girl is among the best female footballers in the world and it is just a matter of time before she starts winning some of them. We are really proud of her,” she said.
Migogo also appealed to Malawians to vote for Temwa through the Globe Soccer website.
According to globesoccer.com, the event will feature 15 categories, including nine that are open to worldwide public vote until this Thursday.
Reads a post on the website: “The second round of voting window to decide each winner will then be active from December 3 to 11.
“Final winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and Globe Soccer jury made of legendary names such as Marcelo Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas and Luis Figo.”
The big-name nominees for the women’s category include reigning Fifa and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona and her teammate and compatriot Alexia Putellas.
In the men’s category, the high-profile nominees are Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint Germain and France, Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, his Brazilian teammate Raphinha and Erling Haaland of Norway and Manchetser City, Harry Kane of England and Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Ironically, the nominees’ list also has only two African stars, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi of PSG.
Last year, Temwa’s France-based sister Tabitha was the only female African nominee. The winner in women’s category was Bonmati while French-man Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid won the men’s category.
