Calgary Wild FC announced the signing of Afghan-Canadian midfielder Farkhunda Muhtaj as the Northern Super League club’s first-ever player Friday.
The 26-year-old is a member of the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team and a well-known social activist.
In 2021, following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, Muhtaj helped coordinate the evacuation of over 300 Afghans, including members of the Afghanistan Youth National Team and their families.
And her new club believes her signing “sets the tone for the culture and values the Calgary Wild FC will exude on and off the pitch. putting an emphasis on inclusion in sport as a catalyst for positive change within the community.”
Calgary Wild FC first signing ‘a player and community ambassador’
Muhtaj has played for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario, Fatih Vatan S.K. of the Turkish Women’s Football Super League and Fortuna Sittard of the Dutch women’s Eredivisie.
“It is an incredible honour to be the first player named to a club that symbolizes the start of something special in Calgary, Alberta and Canada for women’s soccer,” said Muhtaj, via a club statement Friday. “As both a player and community ambassador, I understand the responsibility to lead by example on the pitch through my athletic performance and off the pitch through community work.
“For me, it’s also personal, as an Afghan immigrant and the daughter of former refugees, this is an opportunity to prove that dreams are attainable no matter where you come from or what obstacles you face.”
Calgary-born NHLer joins Calgary Wild FC as investor
Calgary Wild FC also announced that Calgary-born NHL hockey player Josh Morrissey is joining the club as one of its founding investors and plans to be an active board member and team owner.
The 29-year-old Winnipeg Jets defenseman and his wife Margot say they are excited to contribute financially to Calgary Wild FC, and want to help make a team in Calgary sustainable.
“I am incredibly excited and honoured to be part of the Calgary Wild FC ownership group,” said Morrissey via a club statement Friday. “My career as an athlete has given me so much, both personally and professionally, so the opportunity to be involved with Calgary Wild FC in a different way within the sporting world is extremely exciting.
“Given the incredible success our Canadian women have achieved on the international stage, it’s about time we establish a league that showcases their talent and dedication. I truly believe that this league will inspire the next generation, and I can’t wait to see what we can build together.”
- Read: Montreal Roses sign first-ever players
- Read: AFC Toronto signs first-ever Northern Super League player
Earlier this week, Lara Murphy was announced as Calgary Wild FC’s first chief executive officer. And the new boss is clearly proud of her club’s most recent announcements.
“We said it was going to get wild in bringing the Northern Super League to Alberta, and that certainly is the case with these first landmark announcements for our Club that are sure to positively change the landscape of women’s soccer in Alberta,” said Murphy via the statement. “We have built our foundation on the bedrock of inclusion and community. Farkhunda and Josh exemplify these values while leveraging the platform they have in sport to make their communities better.
“I can’t think of two better role models who support the Calgary Wild FC’s mission – on the pitch and in the community – to kickstart the growth of an inclusive fan base that is wild for soccer while providing a source of inspiration in the lives of young Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians. It is an absolute privilege to have both of them share this journey with all Albertans.”
The Northern Super League is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. The NSL is set to kick off in spring of 2025 and currently has six clubs named for its inaugural season.
