Chinzimu Announces Arrival with Dream Debut Goal for BK Häcken

Faith Chinzimu’s patience has been rewarded in the most spectacular fashion after the Malawian striker marked her BK Häcken debut with a goal in Thursday’s 3-1 victory over GKS Katowice Women in the UEFA Women’s Europa League.

The 18-year-old Scorchers attacker came off the bench in the 46th minute and scored in the 74th to help seal a comprehensive 7-1 aggregate triumph that sends the Swedish side through to the Round of 16.

For Chinzimu, the moment represented the culmination of months of waiting and working. Since joining BK Häcken in early August, the former Ascent Academy product had watched from the sidelines in 10 consecutive matches, serving as an unused substitute six times and being left out of the squad entirely on four occasions.

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But head coach Mak Lind’s decision to rotate his squad for the second leg in Poland, with his side holding a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first match, opened the door for the teenager to finally showcase her talents at senior level.

“Right when I was substituted in, I felt a bit nervous,” Chinzimu admitted after the match. “I really wanted to do well and show that I belong in the team. But as soon as I touched the ball for the first time, I felt full of confidence.”

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The nerves were understandable. This was the opportunity Chinzimu had been craving since arriving in Sweden, a chance to prove she could make the step up from the club’s U19 team, where she had been honing her skills during her period of adjustment.

BK Häcken had already established control by the time Chinzimu entered the fray. Monica Jusu Bah opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a thunderous strike into the top corner, and although Katowice equalized, Paulina Nyström restored the visitors’ lead just before halftime.

With the tie effectively decided, Chinzimu seized her moment midway through the second half. The goal came from a header, a finish she described with characteristic modesty.

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“I didn’t really have a plan. I just thought I’d go into the situation, work hard, and see what happens,” she said. “It’s been amazing to be at BK Häcken and train with this team, and to now play with them was a dream come true.”

The strike not only capped a memorable personal debut but also etched Chinzimu’s name into Malawian football history. She becomes one of the select group of players from the southern African nation to feature in the group stages of a European tournament.

For BK Häcken, the victory confirms their place in the Round of 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday at 13:00 CET. The first leg will be played on November 11 or 12, with the return leg following on November 19 or 20.

The question now is whether Chinzimu’s impressive introduction to senior football will earn her more opportunities in the knockout rounds. If Thursday’s performance is any indication, the wait may finally be over for the talented teenager.

After months of frustration and patience, Faith Chinzimu has announced her arrival on the European stage. For a player who has spent the past few months proving herself in training sessions and youth matches, the 28-minute cameo in Poland represented validation that her time would come.

“Playing a match with the team I had trained with for several months was long-awaited and fun,” she reflected. “And of course, scoring made it even more special.”

The dream debut is complete. Now comes the challenge of turning one special night in Poland into a sustained contribution at one of Sweden’s top clubs.