Malawi Women’s National Football Team and French side Paris Saint-Germain striker Tabitha Chawinga has said she is not bitter for missing out on the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
Cosafa hosted the inaugural awards at ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday.
Zambian striker Rachel Kundananji was named winner, beating compatriot Barbara Banda and Tabitha.
In an interview from France Friday, Tabitha congratulated Kundananji for carrying the day.
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’’There is only one winner in every race. It cannot be possible that all three of us can win the same award at the same time,’’ the Malawian said.
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Tabitha was nominated after winning the 2023 Italian golden boot award with 23 goals in 21 matches for Inter Milan Women. It was the first time for a female African player to achieve the feat.
Tabitha is currently having a season of her life in France having won the French Women’s League Player of the Season award. She is also expected to win the golden boot award as she leads the scorers’ chart with 18 goals, six above second-placed Ada Hederberg.
However, Tabitha did not feature for the Scorchers in the entire 2023 season.
Kundananji won the award following her impressive performance for both country and club She was a revelation at former club Madrid FC and Zambia, scoring for her national team at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year.
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During the awards, Scorchers youngster Leticia Chinyamula was named the Most Promising Women’s Player, beating teammate Rose Kabzere and Esther Banda of Zambia.
Youth and Sports minister Uchizi Mkandawire, who attended the ceremony, hailed Chinyamula for her achievement.
’’This is a win, not only for her, but Malawi as a whole. We hope to see more winners for our country next time. This makes all of us proud,’’ Mkandawire said.
Football Association of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya also congratulated Chinyamula for achieving the feat.
’’It is all joy for us. Things could not have been better than this. We will make sure that women’s football is given the much needed attention so that it continues putting us on the map,’’ Haiya said.
Scorchers goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and young referee Wyson Mustafa were also nominated in their respective categories but they did not manage to scoop awards.
