Tabitha Chawinga wasn’t always a prolific scorer. The Paris Saint-Germain star played goalkeeper in rural Malawi as a young girl.
A collision with a defender changed all that. Her mouth was bloodied.
“After that I stopped playing the goal, because I was afraid as well (of) my mom,” Chawinga says.
Her mother frowned on her playing soccer and would slap Chawinga to get her to stop, she says. It’s one of the many obstacles she’s faced during her rise to stardom. As a teenager, she was considered so good that one time she was forced to remove her clothes on the field to prove to the other team that she’s female.
The 27-year-old Chawinga’s confidence and positive attitude have helped her excel on three continents. She left Malawi for the lower divisions of Sweden at age 17 and later played in China before joining Inter Milan for a season, and now PSG.
Toddler's mother claims his nursery asked her if her four month old baby boy was non
Ministers announce advisory group for fast
Pope Francis calls for ceasefire in Gaza and Ukraine in Easter message
Alicudi: Italian island offers goats up for adoption
The Montreal Canadiens have exercised the option on coach Martin St. Louis' contract
US restricts trade with companies tied to drones used by Russia, Houthis
How to make sure your leftovers are safe to eat
Gazans return to scenes of devastation in Khan Younis
Strong quake in southwestern Japan leaves 9 with minor injuries, but no tsunami
Yemen's Houthis say they targeted Western ships
Man arrested after authorities say he threw pipe bomb at Satanic Temple
Buildings shake briefly as earthquake rattles Taiwan