Temwa weighs options

China-based women’s football star Temwa Chawinga says she is overwhelmed by offers from China and Europe, but is in no hurry to decide her next destination.

This follows the expiry of her four-year contract with Chinese Women’s Superleague champions Wuhan Jiangda.

In an interview yesterday, the 25-year-old striker, who is in the country on holiday, said: “My contract with Wuhan has now expired and they have offered me a year-long extension, specifically to help them in the Asian Women’s Champions League campaign.

“Through my manager, I have also received offers from Changhai, who were the runners-up and Changchun Dazhong who finished third.”

The Scorchers forward  also said there have been offers from Europe, “but most of them not tempting enough”.

She said: “As I said earlier on, my target is a move to one of the top European clubs because I feel I have nothing more to prove in China, having won almost everything  on offer, including four  successive league titles. I believe I need new challenges.

“I have received a number of offers from Europe which are good, but the tricky part is the issue of tax on your earnings. Nevertheless, there is one from Spain [name withheld] which my manager is pursuing and we’ll see how it goes.

“So, I should come up with a position after talking to my manager and I also need to consult [my sister] Tabitha.”

Apart from winning the league title, Temwa also helped Wuhan to win the Chinese Women’s FA Cup.

She also won the golden boot in both tournaments.

Temwa was the league’s top scorer with 30 goals, 14 more than her runner-up and fellow African Barbara Banda from Zambia who plays for Changhai.

She also shone for the Scorchers in South Africa this year, helping them to win their first Cosafa Women’s Championship and emerged player of the tournament and top scorer with nine goals.

In an interview yesterday, National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo said Temwa is now a world-class player “who can play for any team in the world”.

She said: “Whatever decision she makes will be crucial in shaping her future, but personally, I feel she deserves to play in any of Europe’s top leagues.”