Malawi Women’s National Football Team captain Tabitha Chawinga has opened a new chapter, having trained with Olympique Lyonnais for the first time on Monday following her transfer from Chinese side Wuhan Jiangda.
Last week, the Malawian signed a three-year contract with the French champions after spending one season on loan at Paris Saint-Germain.
Tabitha did not hide her excitement after training with her new teammates on Monday.
“Always remember, beginning is the hardest part,” Tabitha wrote on her Facebook page.
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Tabitha was in the country for two weeks, when she spent part of her off-season holiday inspiring the rural child.
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She signed for the 17- time French champions despite impressing at PSG last season, when she was named player of the season and won the golden boot award after scoring 19 goals and 11 assists.
While at PSG, Tabitha helped the club to win French de Coupe and also finish second in the league behind Lyon.
Lyon General Director Vincent Ponsot also heaped praise on the Malawian striker after completing her dream move.
“We have a high-calibre squad that we aim to strengthen with talented players like Tabitha to maintain our position at the pinnacle of European football,” he told the club’s website last week.
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The eight-time European champions finished as runners-up to Barcelona following a 2-0 loss in the final of the 2023 Uefa Women’s Champions League.
Many soccer pundits have hailed Tabitha’s move to Lyon, saying she can increase her chances of winning the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili believes Tabitha will continue to excel in France.
“Expectations are high from the Lyon fans but I know she will do well. She is playing for a big club, which has a history of winning titles. I am sure Lyon fans will love her,” Fazili said.
Tabitha made her breakthrough when she joined Krokom Dvarssatts in 2014 before moving to Kvarnsveden (both clubs are in Sweden) the following year.
However, she left Europe when she joined Jiangsu Sunning in 2017, when she won the golden boot award with 17 goals. In 2020, she reunited with Temwa at Wuhan.
