By Garry Chirwa

Copyright mwnation

US-based Malawian women’s football sensation Temwa Chawinga is nursing a knee injury that forced her to miss Kansas City (KC) Current’s league fixture against Washington Spirit on Sunday.

Her absence provided an opportunity for her National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) golden boot rival Esther Gonzalez of Gotham FC to overtake her on the scorers’ chart.

Temwa, who won last year’s Golden Boot Award with a record 20 goals and was named the Most Valuable Player, has 12 goals, one less than Gonzalez, who was on target in her team’s 2-0 victory over San Diego Wave.

Temwa confirmed the injury in an interview yesterday, but could not provide more details on the projected period for her recovery.

“Yes, I sustained a knee injury and that is why I couldn’t play at the weekend,” she said.

Temwa first sustained an ankle injury a fortnight ago during a league match against North Carolina in which she was substituted in the 77th minute.

But she played down the injury then, describing it as minor and featured in the next match against Bay FC which they won and in which she netted a late winner.

KC Current top the 14-team US women’s top-flight with 50 points from 20 matches, 14 points above second-placed Washington Spirit.

Temwa has shone brightly in the US women’s top league, leading to her nomination for the prestigious Women’s Ballon d’Or. She is one of the only two Africans nominated, the other being Barbara Banda, who also plies her trade in the ‘States.