Tabitha Chawinga Explained

Tabitha Chawinga
Birth Date:22 May 1996
Birth Place:Rumphi, Malawi
Height:1.72m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Lyon
Years1:2009–2014
Clubs1:DD Sunshine
Caps1:24
Goals1:83
Years2:2014
Caps2:17
Goals2:39
Years3:2015–2017
Clubs3:Kvarnsvedens IK
Caps3:70
Goals3:84
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:Jiangsu Suning
Caps4:78
Goals4:62
Years5:2021–2024
Clubs5:Wuhan Jianghan University
Caps5:8
Goals5:11
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Inter Milan (loan)
Caps6:23
Goals6:23
Years7:2023–2024
Clubs7:Paris Saint-Germain (loan)
Caps7:21
Goals7:19
Years8:2024-
Clubs8:Lyon
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2011–
Nationalteam1:Malawi
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:25
Pcupdate:5 July 2024

Tabitha Chawinga (born 22 May 1996) is a Malawian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Première Ligue club Lyon and the Malawi national team.

Early life

Born on May 19, 1996, in Rumphi District in northern Malawi, Chawinga is the third of five children born to her parents. She is a Tumbuka by tribe. She began playing football at age five and played with boys until age 13 when she began playing for girls' club, DD Sunshine in the capital city, Lilongwe.[1] Already at this age she was forced to undress because "Her opponents did not believe she was female because of her physical appearance and how well she played."[2] Her sister Temwa Chawinga is also a professional footballer.[3]

Club career

Krokom/Dvärsätts IF, 2014

At age 18, Chawinga played for Swedish third-division club, where she earned the league's golden boot after scoring 39 goals in 18 games.[4] She was the first women's footballer from Malawi to play for a European club.[5]

Kvarnsvedens IK, 2015–2017

Chawinga joined Kvarnsvedens IK in Sweden's Elitettan in 2015. In her debut for the club, she scored a brace in a 4–0 win over Linköpings FC.[6] The club finished in first place during the regular season with a record.[7] Chawinga was the league's top scorer with 43 goals – 14 more than the next highest scorer.[7] The club's first place finish secured them promotion to the Swedish: [[Damallsvenskan]]|italic=no for the 2016 season.[8]

During the 2016 season, Chawinga was the third highest scorer in the league with 15 goals.[9]

In 2017, she finished as the league's top scorer with 26 goals,[10] despite her club's relegation from the Swedish top flight at the end of the season.

Jiangsu Suning, 2018–2021

After successful spells in Sweden, Chawinga gained the interest from various top clubs abroad[11] and eventually signed for Chinese side Jiangsu Suning,[12] reportedly for a record-breaking transfer fee in Swedish women's football.[13] [14] On 6 May 2018, she scored the winning goal in her full-length debut away to Shanghai.[15]

Chawinga received the Player of the Year Award in her debut season playing in the Chinese Women's Super League. She scored 31 goals in all competitions, 17 being in the CWSL. She retained the award in 2019–20, scoring 12 league goals (38 in all competitions) and helping Jiangsu to a historic quadruple.[16]

Wuhan Jiangda 2021–present

After the main sponsor of Jiangsu Suning stopped supporting Chawinga, she moved to Wuhan Jiangda where her sister Temwa plays. Wuhan sent her on successive loan spells to Inter Milan and Paris Saint Germain.

Inter Milan (loan), 2022–23

Chawinga signed a one-year loan deal with Inter Milan for the 2022–23 season.[17] She was the top scorer in Serie A with 23 goals for Inter Milan, 16 of them in the regular season. She was the first African woman to be the highest-scoring player in Serie A.

Paris Saint-Germain (loan), 2023–

Chawinga joined Paris Saint-Germain on a season long loan deal.[18] Chawinga reunited with manager Gérard Prêcheur, under whom she had worked during the 2018–19 CWSL season with Jiangsu Suning.[19] However, he left the position in September 2023.[20]

Chawinga scored her first goal for PSG in a 1–0 victory away at Saint-Etienne.[21] She also became the first Malawian to play and score in the UEFA Women's Champion's League with her goal in a 1–1 tie with Manchester United.[22]

In the 74th minute against BK Häcken in the first leg of the 2023–24 Champions League quarterfinal, Chawinga scored the winning goal making it 2–1.[23]

International career

Chawinga serves as captain for Malawi.[24]

Due to club football, Chawinga was absent from Malawi's 2023 victory in the COSAFA Women's Championship.[25]

Personal life

Chawinga's sister Temwa is also a Malawian international footballer.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition. Only official games are included in this table.[26] [27] [28]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
DD Sunshine2009-100000000000
2010-110000000000
2011-1214400000001440
2012-1310430000001043
2013-140000000000
Total24830000002483
201418390000001839
Kvarnsvedens IK201526430000002643
201622150000002215
201722251100002326
Total70831100007186
Jiangsu Suning201814170010001517
201914122+6103320+21
2020127000000127
Total40362+6200044+42
Wuhan Jianghan University2021149000000149
2022108000000108
20233300000033
Total27200000002720
Inter Milan (loan)2022–2323234300002726
Paris Saint-Germain (loan)2023–24211954001263829
Total22330311+1420138239+325+

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 13 September 2017 1–0 3–6 2017 COSAFA Women's Championship
2. 2–3
3. 3–5
4. 15 September 2017 1–0 6–3
5. 2–0
6. 5–3
7. 6–3
8. 17 September 2017 Luveve Stadium, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 2–3 3–3
9. 3–3
10. 4 April 2019 1–0 11–1 2020 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
11. 3–0
12. 11–0
13. 9 April 2019 2–0 3–0
14. 28 August 2019 Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre, Malawi 2–1 3–2
15. 3–1
16. 7 November 2020 2–0 9–0 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship
17. 4–0
18. 5–0
19. 6–0
20. 8–0
21. 9–0
22. 12 November 2020 2–6 2–6
23. 5 September 2022 NMU Stadium, Gqeberha, South Africa 3–0 6–0 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
24. 4–0
25. 5–0

Honours

Kvarnsvedens IK

Jiangsu Suning

Wuhan Jianghan University

Paris Saint-Germain

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tabitha Chawinge. 18 June 2017.
  2. News: 'A violation': football star recounts having to strip during match to prove she was female. Charles. Pensulo. 6 August 2021. The Guardian.
  3. Web site: Ahmadu. Samuel. 6 March 2021. Chawinga: Tabitha joins Malawian sister Temwa at Wuhan. 6 August 2021. Goal.com. Goal.
  4. News: Malawi striker Chawinga wins Golden Boot in Sweden women football. 19 June 2017. Nyasa Times. 13 October 2014.
  5. Web site: DT. www.dt.se.
  6. News: Kanjere. Peter. Tabitha shines in Swedish football debut. The Nation. 19 June 2017. 24 April 2015.
  7. Web site: 2015 Elitettan. Soccer Way. 19 June 2017.
  8. Web site: Vincelot. Charlotte. Tabitha Chawinga, buteuse made in Malawi. Foot d'Elles. 19 June 2017. 13 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Nedstängd webbadress. www2.svenskfotboll.se.
  10. Web site: Nedstängd webbadress. www2.svenskfotboll.se.
  11. News: Tabitha Chawinga interview. She Kicks . 2018-03-16.
  12. News: Tabitha Chawinga ready for China show. The Daily Times (Malawi). 2018-03-16.
  13. News: Tabitha Chawinga record-breaking transfer fee paid by Jiangsu Suning. JWsports1. 2018-03-22.
  14. News: Skyttedrottningens pris: 1,5 miljoner kronor. Dagens Nyheter . 21 March 2018. www.dn.se.
  15. News: Tabitha Chawinga opens scoring account. The Daily Times (Malawi). 2018-05-10.
  16. Web site: Obayiuwana . Osau . 18 October 2023 . PSG's Tabitha Chawinga: 'My parents did not support the idea of me playing football' . 20 October 2023 . The Guardian.
  17. Web site: 16 August 2022 . Tabitha Chawinga Joins Inter . 20 October 2023 . Inter Milan.
  18. Web site: Tabitha Chawinga . 20 October 2023 . PSG . fr.
  19. Web site: 19 September 2023 . Tabitha Chawinga: "We can score a lot of goals" . 20 October 2023 . PSG.
  20. Web site: 28 September 2023 . Communiqué du club . 20 October 2023 . PSG . fr.
  21. Web site: 6 October 2023 . The Parisians win at Saint-Etienne . 20 October 2023 . PSG.
  22. Web site: 11 October 2023 . Chawinga becomes first Malawian to score in UEFA competition . 20 October 2023 . Malawi 24.
  23. Web site: The Parisians win the first leg against Häcken! . 20 March 2024 . PSG.
  24. Web site: 1 June 2023 . Tabitha Chawinga joins Victor Osimhen as top scorer in Serie A . 20 October 2023 . BBC Sport.
  25. Web site: Mlanjira . Duncan . 20 October 2023 . Tabitha Chawinga shines again as PSG oust Manchester United in UEFA Women's Champions League . 20 October 2023 . Nyasa Times.
  26. Web site: Malawi – T. Chawinga – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway .
  27. Web site: Tabitha Chawinga – Flashscore.co.uk .
  28. Web site: Facebook. www.facebook.com.
  29. Web site: Ahmadu. Samuel. 18 Nov 2019. Addo and Chawinga win quadruple as Jiangsu Suning lift Chinese Women's Super Cup title Goal.com. 2020-12-02. www.goal.com.
  30. Group. Suning Holdings. Zhang Jindong Praised Suning Women's Football Club for a Quadruple Crown. 2020-12-04. www.prnewswire.com. en.
  31. Web site: MD3: Jiangsu Suning defeat Incheon Hyundai to finish second Football News Women's Club Championship 2019. 2020-12-04. the-AFC. en-GB.
  32. Web site: LE PSG PUISSANCE 4. fr. 4 May 2024. 4 May 2024.
  33. Web site: Här är alla vinnare på Fotbollsgalan 2017. 20 November 2017. www.aftonbladet.se.
  34. Web site: 28 January 2021 . IFFHS Women's CAF Team Decade 2011–2020 . 7 August 2023 . The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
  35. Web site: 7 June 2021 . IFFHS All-time Africa Women's Dream Team . The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
  36. Web site: 27 April 2018.
    1. CWSL Topscorers of the League
    . 6 August 2021. China Women's Football – 中国女足. en.
  37. Web site: 中国足球协会女子足球超级联赛. 17 August 2022. CFA Women's SUper League. zh.
  38. Web site: 30 November 2021.
    1. CWSL Top Scorers
    . 17 August 2022. China Women's Football – 中国女足. en.
  39. Web site: Ahmadu. Samuel. 10 August 2020. Malawi striker Tabitha Chawinga retains Chinese Women's Player of the Year award Goal.com. 8 August 2021. www.goal.com. Goal.
  40. Web site: 4 December 2023 . Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE . 5 December 2023 . Sky Sport . it.
  41. Web site: 5 COMME LES ANNEAUX OLYMPIQUES…. 13 May 2024. 14 May 2024.
  42. Web site: TROPHÉES 2023-2024 : LES LAURÉATES. 29 April 2024. 5 May 2024.
  43. Web site: 2023/24 Women's Champions League Team of the Season. 27 May 2024. 27 May 2024.
  44. Web site: TABITHA CHAWINGA JOUEUSE DE FÉVRIER. 15 March 2024. 5 May 2024.
  45. Web site: CHAWINGA CONSERVE SA COURONNE EN MARS. 24 April 2024. 5 May 2024.