Maria Khan Takes International Leap: Joins Saudi Football Club as Captain”
Pakistan women’s football team captain, Maria Khan, has achieved a remarkable milestone by signing with Saudi Women’s Premier League’s Eastern Flames FC, the club announced on Friday.
At 31 years old, Maria is not only an accomplished athlete but also the first Pakistani female footballer to secure a contract with a Saudi club. Her leadership qualities came to the forefront when she was named captain of the Pakistan women’s team for their comeback tournament, the SAFF Women’s Championship, last year. Under her guidance, the team has shown impressive progress.
Dammam-based Saudi club Eastern Flames recognizes Maria’s potential and has signed her for the current season to bolster their first women’s team for the league.
The official announcement of Maria’s signing was made on the microblogging site X, with the club stating, “Maria Khan joins the ranks of Eastern Flames FC.”
In her response to the signing, Maria expressed her hope that this opportunity would pave the way for more exposure and chances for Pakistani talent on the international stage. Speaking to Geo News, she said, “I hope this starts to create opportunities for Pakistani athletes and the talent that a lot of times goes unnoticed.”
The roster of the Eastern Flames FC includes players from various countries including Colombia, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
It’s worth noting that the club faced a challenging debut season in the Saudi Premier League last year, securing only two wins out of 14 games.
Maria’s football journey includes playing for WAPDA in Pakistan. Her standout moment this year was a sensational goal scored from a free-kick, which helped Pakistan equalize against Saudi Arabia in a four-nation tournament.
Maria follows in the footsteps of Hajra Khan, who became the first Pakistani female footballer to be signed by a foreign club in 2014 when she joined the SHR Football Club of Maldives. This recent achievement highlights the growing recognition and opportunities for women in Pakistani football.
