Where would PSG women be without Tabitha Chawinga? Probably not at the gates of a historic season. Despite the elimination in the semi-finals of the Champions League against OL after two crazy scenarios (2-3; 1-2), the capital club is still in the running for the national titles, the D1 Arkema and the Coupe de France against Fleury 91 in the final, this Saturday (3 p.m., BeIN Sports) at the La Mosson stadium in Montpellier. And he owes it greatly to the performances of his Malawian striker: 28 goals in 35 matches (29 starts), all competitions combined, including a double in the Cup semi-final against Paris FC (3-3, 4-3 tab).
Voted last Monday as the best player of the season in France during the D1 Arkema trophies, the 27-year-old should undoubtedly do it again during the UNFP trophies on May 13. No one expected this resounding first season in France, not even PSG, very pleasantly surprised by such a performance. The task was not easy for Tabitha Chawinga. It was certainly coming out of a similar season at Inter Milan (26 goals) but at a level incomparable with that experienced during European meetings in Paris or during shocks against OL or Paris FC in the championship.
Especially since it was necessary to make up for the departure to Lyon of a certain Kadidiatou Diani, elected best player in D1 in 2023. The objective of Prêcheur, Gérard and Jocelyn, at the end of last year was to associate “Kadi” to Chawinga and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Jocelyn Prêcheur, who took over from his father along the way, finally settled for a duo, supplemented over the matches by Sandy Baltimore, Korbin Albert and Lieke Martens.
“We would all have liked to keep Diani but Chawinga’s contribution was much greater than we hoped,” we confirm with the Parisian staff. The main objective now is to preserve it.
Between 2018 and 2020, the Malawian was already playing in China, at Jiangsu LFC, where Jocelyn Prêcheur trained. In March 2021, she signed with Wuhan, where her little sister Temwa played, for two seasons plus one option, until June 2024. Loaned by the winning club of the Chinese Super League, the contractual situation of Tabitha Chawinga would be ideal for PSG. On paper, Chawinga is in her last year of contract and would therefore be free to engage wherever she wishes. But also to raise the stakes after two almost perfect seasons in Europe.
“I would like to stay in Paris, it’s my home. The managers are talking with my agent. At the end of the season, I think I will stay at PSG,” she said on Monday, her best player trophy in her hands. “We must keep it at all costs,” said Grace Geyoro, its captain. A point on which she is joined by the sports management of Angelo Castellazzi and Sabrina Delannoy. It remains to find an agreement. Negotiations which promise to be as difficult as last year. PSG and Wuhan took more than three months before concluding the one-year loan.
