US-based Malawian women’s football star Temwa Chawinga has defended her decision to put her personal project first ahead of national duty. The Kansas City (KC) Current forward’s decision to excuse herself from the upcoming Scorchers’ friendlies against Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam raised questions from some quarters about her commitment towards the Malawi Women’s National Football Team. But in an interview yesterday, the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or and 2025 Fifa Women’s World Best Player nominee said she remains committed to the Scorchers’ cause.
She said: “This is the only time I have excused myself from national duty. As for the other engagements, I missed them due to injuries. “It was an honest decision, otherwise I would have faked an injury, a thing I wouldn’t do because I am honest.
“People can express their feelings. It is their right and I cannot stop them. I am used to that because the support is less than the criticism I endure.
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It is one of those things.” Temwa also said she could not reschedule the trip due to complications the move could have created. “Otherwise, I remain fully committed to the Scorchers and I will team up with them soon. I also wish them all the best in Tanzania,” she said.
Football Association of Malawi operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka said in an interview yesterday that the issue will be looked into later. “The focus now is on the upcoming games against Tanzania, probably after that, we can tackle that issue,” he said. In a message sent to the Scorchers’ technical panel, the 27-year-old reigning US women’s top-flight league Most Valuable Player and golden boot winner excused herself from the Tanzania trip because it clashes with her planned trip to China where she intends to meet suppliers of her house construction project.
Temwa has featured once for the Scorchers in the last 15 matches. She last played against Zambia in February 2025 in Lusaka.
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