”Iam busy-Temwa Chawinga tells Malawi national football team

US-based Malawi women’s football player Temwa Chawinga has declined a call-up from the Scorchers for the upcoming international friendlies against Ghana and Tanzania, choosing instead to embark on a personal trip to China.

This decision comes despite her club, Kansas City Current, having released her for the FIFA international window matches and arranged her travel plans.

According to the Nation on Sunday, the US club notified the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that Temwa would be available for the two matches and even offered to purchase her air tickets for the trip to Tanzania.

However, in a message sent to the Scorchers team manager, which we have seen, Temwa stated that she would not be available due to a scheduling conflict with her planned trip to China, where she aims to meet suppliers for her house construction project.

The message states: “Hello, I cannot join the team because I am going to China and the dates of the games coincide with my trip. I need to meet with the suppliers for my construction materials because my visa to China expires on June 8.”

FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed this development in an interview.

“Yes, we have received communication from Temwa. That’s all I can say for now,” he stated.

Temwa’s absence poses a challenge for Scorchers head coach Lovemore Fazili, who believes that his team is not complete without Temwa and her sister Tabitha, who plays in France.

The coach had intended to have all Scorchers stars participate in the final friendly matches before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) finals in Morocco.