Tabitha Chawinga

Tabitha Chawinga (born 22 May 1996) is a Malawian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, on loan from Chinese side Wuhan Jianghan University FC, and the Malawi women's national team.

Tabitha Chawinga
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-05-22) 22 May 1996
Place of birth Lilongwe, Malawi
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Inter Milan
(on loan from Wuhan Jianghan University)
Number 11
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Krokom/Dvärsätts IF 17 (39)
2015–2017 Kvarnsvedens IK 70 (84)
2018–2020 Jiangsu Suning 78 (62)
2021– Wuhan Jianghan University ? (?)
2022– → Inter Milan (loan) 15 (16)
International career
2011– Malawi
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:30, 26 February 2023

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 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" she told in an interview.[2] Also her sister Temwa Chawinga is a professional player in China.[3]

Playing career

Krokom/Dvärsätts IF, 2014

At age 18, Chawinga played for Swedish third-division club Krokom/Dvärsätts IF, 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 21–2–3 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 Damallsvenskan 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]

Wuhan Jiangda 2021–present

After the main sponsor of Jiangsu Suning stopped supporting Chawinga moved to Wuhan Jiangda where here sister Temwa is playing.[3]

Personal life

Chawinga's sister Temwa is also a Malawian international footballer.[3]

Honours
Kvarnsvedens IK

Jiangsu Suning

Wuhan Jianghan University

Individual

References
  1. "Tabitha Chawinge". Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ‘A violation’: football star had to strip during match to prove she was female
  3. Ahmadu, Samuel (6 March 2021). "Chawinga: Tabitha joins Malawian sister Temwa at Wuhan". Goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 6 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "Malawi striker Chawinga wins Golden Boot in Sweden women football". Nyasa Times. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  5. Dalarnas Tidningar (Swedish)
  6. Kanjere, Peter (24 April 2015). "Tabitha shines in Swedish football debut". The Nation. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  7. "2015 Elitettan". Soccer Way. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  8. Vincelot, Charlotte (13 June 2016). "Tabitha Chawinga, buteuse made in Malawi". Foot d'Elles. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  9. 2016 Damallsvenskan goal scorers
  10. 2017 Damallsvenskan goal scorers
  11. "Tabitha Chawinga interview". She Kicks. 16 March 2018.
  12. "Tabitha Chawinga ready for China show". The Daily Times (Malawi). 16 March 2018.
  13. "Tabitha Chawinga record-breaking transfer fee paid by Jiangsu Suning". JWsports1. 22 March 2018.
  14. Dagens Nyheter (Swedish)
  15. "Tabitha Chawinga opens scoring account". The Daily Times (Malawi). 10 May 2018.
  16. "Tabitha Chawinga". SoccerWay. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  17. Ahmadu, Samuel (18 November 2019). "Addo and Chawinga win quadruple as Jiangsu Suning lift Chinese Women's Super Cup title | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  18. Group, Suning Holdings. "Zhang Jindong Praised Suning Women's Football Club for a Quadruple Crown". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  19. "MD3: Jiangsu Suning defeat Incheon Hyundai to finish second | Football | News | Women's Club Championship 2019". the-AFC. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  20. Fotbollsgalan 2017 (Swedish)
  21. "IFFHS WOMAN TEAM - CAF - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 28 January 2021.
  22. "#CWSL | Topscorers of the League". China Women's Football - 中国女足. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. "中国足球协会女子足球超级联赛". CFA Women's SUper League (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  24. "#CWSL Top Scorers". China Women's Football - 中国女足. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  25. Ahmadu, Samuel (10 August 2020). "Malawi striker Tabitha Chawinga retains Chinese Women's Player of the Year award | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 8 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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