US club signs Temwa chawinga

US National Women’s Soccer League outfit Kansas City Current FC have signed Malawian footballer Temwa Chawinga on a two-year deal.

The Scorchers forward has agreed the two-year deal with the Missouri State-based side through her Chinese manager following the expiry of her contract with Chinese Women’s top-flight league side Wuhan Jiangda last month.

According the 2023 season log table, the team finished second bottom in the 12-team league, but won the league title in 2014 and 2015 season.

The US club’s general manager Camille Ashton and head coach Vlatko Andonoviski took turns in speaking highly about their new catch through the club’s website.

Said Ashton: “Temwa is an exciting player and we are very happy she has chosen to come to Kansas City.”

She said the player’s achievements in China and Sweden as well as at national team level, speak volumes about her class.

On his part, Andonoviski said: “She is a dynamic player who has shown she can find the goal at every stop along her path, she will be fun to watch.

“I am excited for Temwa to join us in Kansas City.”

However, the manager was not committed to disclose the finer details of the contract.

But in an interview yesterday, Temwa, who is in the country as she awaits her next move, said she was yet to be briefed about the deal by her Chinese manager.

“Of course, he informed me that he was in US to talk to one of the top teams there, but he is yet to get in touch on the outcome.

“I guess he is in transit back to China and once he gets there, he will give me more details and I will take it up from there.”

The 25-year-old player also said the statement purportedly made by her on the club’s website, www.kansascitycurrent.com should have come from his manager.

Malawi National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adelaide Migogo said Temwa has put Malawi on the map.

“It’s a great achievement which will motivate more girls to work harder to reach where she is. As an association, we are proud of her,” she said.

The deal was announced barely a day after she was named the world’s women’s top scorer for 2023 with 63 goals by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics to become the first African to achieve that feat.

The top scorer for men was Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo with 54 goals.

Temwa also won the Cosafa Women’s Championship golden boot with nine goals after inspiring the Scorchers to the title.

Alongside her France-based sister Tabitha, she was nominated for CAF Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year.