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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1996-05-22) 22 May 1996 (age 26) | ||
| Place of birth | Lilongwe, Malawi | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team |
Inter Milan (on loan from Wuhan Jianghan University) | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014 | Krokom/Dvärsätts IF [sv] | 17 | (39) |
| 2015–2017 | Kvarnsvedens IK | 70 | (84) |
| 2018–2020 | Jiangsu Suning | 78 | (62) |
| 2021– | Wuhan Jianghan University | ? | (?) |
| 2022– | → Inter Milan (loan) | 1 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 2011– | Malawi | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 August 2022 | |||
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]
At age 18, Chawinga played for Swedish third-division club Krokom/Dvärsätts IF [sv], 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]
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.
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]
After the main sponsor of Jiangsu Suning stopped supporting Chawinga moved to Wuhan Jiangda where here sister Temwa is playing.[3]
Chawinga's sister Temwa is also a Malawian international footballer.[3]
Jiangsu Suning
Wuhan Jianghan University
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Inter Milan Women – current squad | |
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Damallsvenskan top scorers | |
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