ISLAMABAD: While not as detailed or extravagant as the recent announcements by Saudi Arabian football clubs regarding the arrival of star players like Sadio Mane, the significance of the announcement about Maria joining Saudi Club remained substantial.
The Eastern Flames, located in Dammam, excitedly revealed that they have secured the services of Maria Khan, the captain of the Pakistan women’s football team, for the upcoming season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League.
This announcement follows a series of remarkable performances by Ms. Khan in the Four-Nations Cup last year within the kingdom, which led to this significant development.
Maria Khan’s Transfer To Saudi Club Sparks Hope For Pakistani Athletes
The club made the announcement on the microblogging site X, previously known as Twitter, stating that Maria Khan is their inaugural foreign addition for the forthcoming season.
In the past year, Saudi Arabia has notably escalated its financial commitment to football. The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al-Nassr Football Club in December and the acquisition of four prominent clubs by the country’s Public Investment Fund have triggered a wave of high-profile arrivals in the ongoing transfer window.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has allocated significant funds to foster the development of women’s football, openly pursuing its aspiration to emulate Qatar’s example and host the World Cup in the coming years.
Ms. Khan, 31, who was playing her club football in the United Arab Emirates, said, “I had the opportunity to go to Saudi before the influx of investment into the women’s game.”
“However, my circumstances at the time didn’t allow me to make the move. Now, however, I’m at a point in my life where I am able to take this opportunity and really look forward to it. Being in the Gulf for over 10 years, I’ve watched the growth of women’s football in the region.”
“More than anything, I’m looking forward to being given the opportunity to try my best not only to represent but also try to bring awareness to fellow Pakistani athletes,” she further said.
Women’s Football Progress in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
Last year, the Saudi Women’s Premier League took over from the Saudi Women’s National League as the premier women’s competition in the country. This overhaul also introduced a noteworthy influx of foreign players, among them Ibtissam Jraïdi from Morocco, who has scored in the ongoing Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand.
In Pakistan, there have been significant advancements in women’s football over the past year, and even though a league structure has been absent, the national team has demonstrated commendable performances.
Maria is optimistic that her transfer will pave the way for other players to also secure transfers to foreign clubs. She said, “I hope this starts to create opportunities for Pakistani athletes and the talent that a lot of times goes unnoticed.”
