Malawi poster girl Tabitha Chawinga thrills on Inter Milan debut
Malawi women’s football poster girl Tabitha Chawinga wasted no time in announcing her arrival into Italian Serie A Women’s Football League when she scored on her debut for Inter Milan women’s football club on Sunday.
Tabitha, who joined Inter on a year-long loan from Wuhan Jiangda FC in the Chinese Women’s Super League recently, scored the fourth goal to round off a comprehensive 4-1 win over FC Parma.
Inter had scored the other goals through Stefanie (15th minute), Ghoutia Karchouni (43rd minute) and Gloria Marinelli (43rd minute).
The Malawi skipper scored in the 77th minute, chesting a long ball, then shrugging off his marker before rounding off the diving Parma goalkeeper and placing the ball into the yawning net with ease from an acute angle.
The 26-year-old has since confirmed her availability for the Cosafa Women’s Championship scheduled for South Africa from August 31 to September 11 in South Africa.
“Photo dump of my first Serie A Women match for FC Inter Milan against Parma. Thank you so much for your support. See you soon at the Cosafa tournament,” she posted on her Facebook page.
The former China’s Jiangsu Suning forward is expected to feature for Malawi in the two opening games against Botswana and Comoros but will miss the rest of the matches as they would fall outside the international football window.
Malawi senior women’s football team coach Lovemore Fazili has included Tabitha in a 22-member squad ahead of the Cosafa Championship scheduled for Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth.
The Scorchers, as Malawi are called, will fight for honours in group C comprising Botswana, Comoros and defending champions Tanzania.
Malawi will start off the Cosafa Championship campaign against Botswana on September 2 while seeking to build on the silver place finish in last year’s edition of the cup.
Group A has South Africa, Angola, Mauritius and Mozambique, whereas Group B comprises Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini
Below is Malawi’s full squad:
Goalkeepers: Mercy Sikelo, Ruth Mhango, Martha Banda
Defenders: Emily Jossam, Ruth Nyirongo, Chimwemwe Madise, Patricia Nyirenda, Ireen Khumalo, Fatsireni Kazembe, Bernadettar Mkandawire.
Midfielders: Rose Kabzere, Chikondi Gondwe, Mphatso Gondwe,Wezzie Mvula,Madyina Nguluwe, Jessy Yosefe
Strikers: Asimenye Simwaka, Sabina Thom, Tabitha Chawinga, Mary Chavinda, Fazila Chembekezo, Limbikani Chikupira