Tabitha nominated for CAF award
Revered Malawian female footballer Tabitha Chawinga is again among nominees for the African female Footballer of the Year Award.
A statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released yesterday, says the awards gala, to honour footballers and officials who distinguished themselves during the year under review, will be held on January 8 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.
The China-based forward, who stars for Jiangsu Suning, is among 15 nominees for the prestigious award.
Tabitha yesterday said she feels humbled by the recognition.
“I thank God because it is Him who guides and blesses me. The recognition alone means a lot.
“I also thank my team-mates, my family and all football loving Malawians for their support, I do not take it for granted,” she said yesterday
The statement further states that 34 male footballers have also been nominated for the flagship awards based on the performance of the players during the year.
Tabitha’s sheer quality once again shone like a flare this season when she won the Golden Boot accolade in her debut season in the Chinese top league.
She scored 17 goals, seven goals more than her runner-up, Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala who is the reigning African Footballer of the Year.
National women’s football team coach Maggie Chombo-Sidik said Tabitha’s nomination underlines that she is one of the best players on the continent.
“It is not surprising, Tabitha is among the best not oaly on the continent, but in the world as well and we should be proud of her feat,” she said.
It says the winners will be decided by CAF Technical and Development Committee, media experts, legends, coaches of the quarter-finalists of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, coaches and captains of the national teams from the 54 member associations.
Other categories include Youth Player of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year and Women’s National Team of the Year.
