Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga, who won the Golden boot accolade in the 2023 Italian Serie A women’s Football League, arrived back home to  la heroes welcome on Thursday afternoon

Chawinga landed at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) at 1230 hours and was welcomed by thousands of people.

National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo,who represented FAM at the Airport, said she is overwhelmed with Chawinga’s achievement describing it as a motivation to other players.

“Tabitha has sent a message that if you work hard the sky is not the limit. If you work hard these are the fruits which one can bear. We will use her as a motivator to other Scorchers players and all the Women football players in the country.

“I would like to appeal to sponsors, cooperate world and individuals to come into the women’s football developments so that we produce a lot of the Tabithas in Malawi”, she said.

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Hon Liana Kakhobwe Chapota who represented her Excellence Madam Monica Chakwera hailed Chawinga for the accolade saying she has put Malawi flag on high.

“My coming is not necessarily on my capacity as deputy minister but I have been sent by the State President Lazarus Chakwera and her excellence madame Monica Chakwera to give our star a heroes welcome because she is representing girls in the country and putting the flag on world map.

“She has achieved what many Africans have failed to attain over many years and as government, we saw it necessary to give her the warm welcome. Tabitha has given platform to all Youth who take football as sport for the boys. Let me urge all youths to embrace what Tabitha has done for the country. As government we are committed to develop different sports codes from grassroots”, said Kakhobwe Chapota.

Addressing the media at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), the Malawi National women football team skipper said she was delighted for winning the accolade and being the first African player to attain the record.

“I am so delighted to be the first African to win the Golden Boot and with this, I believe that everything is possible and anyone can achieve anything regardless of their race. I want to encourage all girls who are playing Women’s football in the country to continue working hard and disown all sorts of insults people say about them. This is a calling from God, said Chawinga.

About her contract in China, Chawinga said she would be speaking on her future later own as she has a running contract with Chinese outfit Wuhan.

“I will talk about my future later on as I was on loan at Inter Milan hence I have to return to China from then I will know my next move. Yes many teams have shown interest in my services but I can’t comment right now as I have left all things in the hands of my agent and my parent club Wuhan to discuss and map the way forward”, said Chawinga.

The Scorchers captain won the 2022-2023 Italian Serie A Women’s League Golden Boot award after scoring 23 goals. She also won the accolade in Sweden and China.