Maria Khan joins Saudi football club Eastern Flames FC
Last updated on: 14 August,2023 12:46 pm
Maria is the first female Pakistani player to be signed by a Saudi club
KARACHI (Web Desk) - Eastern Flames FC of the Saudi Women’s Premier League has signed captain of the Pakistan women’s football team Maria Khan.
Maria, 31, was elected captain of the Pakistan football team last year. Since then, the Pakistan women’s squad has made impressive strides under her leadership.
Maria has been hired for this season by Damam-based Saudi club Eastern Flames to bolster their league-ready first team. “Maria Khan joins the ranks of Eastern Flames FC,” read the club’s Arabic-language Twitter post that announced Maria’s signing.
تنضم ماريا خان الى صفوف نادي شعلة الشرقية تعاقد إدارة النادي مع اول المحترفات الاجانب ، لتدعيم صفوف الفريق الاول لكرة القدم سيدات في الدوري الممتاز للسيدات لهذا الموسم ماريا خان هي كابتن المنتخب الباكستاني #ماريا_خان#شعلة_الشرقية #فخر_الشرقية #كرة_القدم_النسائية pic.twitter.com/yrEpHyUmaR
— نادي شعلة الشرقية (@EasternFlamesFC) August 11, 2023
“The club’s management contracted with the first foreign professional to support the ranks of the women’s first team in the women’s premier league this season,” it added. The club has also hired players from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Colombia, and Tunisia.
The club could only manage to win two of the 14 games it played in the Saudi Premier League’s maiden season. Maria once represented WAPDA in Pakistan.
The midfielder captured everyone’s attention earlier this year when she tied the match against the Saudi Arabian hosts on a fantastic free-kick in a four-nation competition.
Maria is the first female football player from Pakistan to be signed by a Saudi club.Hajra Khan joined SHR Football team of the Maldives in 2014 and became the first female football player from Pakistan to ever be signed by a foreign team.
Maria felt that by joining the Saudi club, more opportunities would be presented to Pakistani talent. “I hope this start to create opportunities for Pakistani athletes and the talent that a lot of times goes unnoticed,” Maria told the media after her signing with Eastern Flames FC.