Malawi star Tabitha Chawinga scores in Milan derby triumph
Inter Milan women’s team’s Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga was on target in the 4-0 derby win over rivals AC Milan on Saturday.
Chawinga scored alongside Elisa Polli, Annadottir and Van Der in the Serie A Femminile Premier League encounter.
It was the fifth goal in six league games for Chawinga, who was recently named the Italian league’s best player for September 2022.
It was double joy for the 26-year-old forward who, before the derby, had, through representatives, bought her mother, Kesten Luhanga, a car back home.
Chawinga spoiled her mother to celebrate Mother’s Day, which falls on October 15 in Malawi.
Chawinga opted to recognize the importance of her mother through a poem which she shared on her Facebook page.
“As a mother, you are a walking miracle. A mother who understands even what a child does not say….
The world needs mothers….A mother’s hug lasts long even after she lets go,” she wrote.
“There is nothing as sincere as a mother’s kiss….Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face….
Happy Mother’s day to you, mama Kester Luhanga and all mothers. Receive your flowers!!!”
Chawinga adapted fast to the Italian league on her return to Europe, where she launched her professional career in Sweden.
She scored on her debut for Inter as they beat FC Parma 4-1 last month.
A week later, Chawinga then bagged a brace in a six-goal thriller between Inter Milan and Juventus.
The Malawian secured a loan move to Inter Milan last month from China, where she was playing at Jiangda alongside her younger sister Temwa.
The dreadlocked forward launched her career at DD Sunshine FC before Temwa followed suit to sign for the Lilongwe-based team.
Chawinga eventually moved to the third-tier Swedish league side, Krokom/Dvarsatts IF, in 2014, becoming the first Malawian woman footballer to sign for a European team.
The Malawi skipper scored 39 goals in 14 games despite missing five games as she had not yet turned 18, which is the minimum age for professional footballers.
Chawinga then secured a move to China, where she first signed for Jiangsu Suning before moving to Jiangda.
Meanwhile, Inter have cemented their lead on top of the table after taking their tally to 16 points from six games, one point ahead of second-placed Fiorentina.
AC Milan remain sixth with nine points following the third defeat in six games.