Malawi National Women’s team Captain Tabitha Chawinga has made history by becoming the first African to with the Italian Serie A Women’s League golden boot award.
She won the award with 23 goals, eight more than second placed Cristiana Gireli from Juventus.
AS Roma Women are winners the Serie A Femminile League with 67 points from 26 games while Chawinga’s Inter Milan finished on 5th position.
Chawinga said she is excited to win the award
“I am excited and humbled at the same time. Remembering that I started from a poor village in Rumphi, Malawi to this golden boot, makes me truly thankful and humbled.
“To my fellow players in Malawi and those up and coming players, I encourage them to believe in possibilities, work hard and focus. They should aim to be great everyday. Great things happen when you fully give yourself to your calling and purpose. I am a girl from Hewe, Rumphi who simply believed that football is my calling and I give it my all and that’s why I am here now,” she said.
National Women’s Football Association Chairperson Adellaide Migogo hailed Chawinga for the award saying this will open doors for other Malawian girls as scouts will be looking for Malawian talent.
“I would like to congratulate Tabitha for this great achievement. She is making us all proud. She is an invaluable ambassador for Malawi Women’s football.
“As NWFA, this makes our work easier because it serves as proof to all the girls out there that if one works hard enough and is committed, anything is possible. Tabitha has made Malawi and the whole African continent proud. Her achievements have put the focus of international clubs and scouts on Malawi women’s football now and it will be easier for the local footballers here to get international deals if they work hard enough.
“As highlighted in my Manifesto, my aim is to have as many girls as possible playing outside Malawi. This will improve our football standards especially at National team level and it will also act as great motivation to the other local women footballers at the same time uplifting the lives of the girls which is something I am very passionate about.
“Any girl who clinches a professional deal will automatically become our ambassador to sell Malawi women’s football internationally and to motivate the girls locally”, said Migogo.
Chawinga is currently at Inter Milan on a year-long deal from China’s Wuhan-Jianghan University FC.
