KARACHI: Pakistan women’s football team will have a historic day on September 7 as their eight-year wait will be over after the team will face India to kick off their campaign in the SAFF Women’s Championship.
Pakistan will be led by United Arab Emirates-based Maria Khan, who will enter the pitch on her international debut in the captain’s armband.
United Arab Emirates-based Maria Khan will lead the Pakistani side as they take to the pitch on their international debut with the captain’s armband.
In an exclusive interview with Geo.tvMaria spoke about her background, her experience in the Pakistani camp and her plans for the team.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper-turned-midfielder said the Pakistani team are “not in Nepal just to show off” and the players are really looking forward to playing well.
“We are hungry, we are looking to come in and compete, we are not here to show up. The girls are really excited. Really excited to have the opportunity to finally return to the international scene after eight years. There is a good energy in the whole camp,” she told Geo.tv from Kathmandu after the team’s first training session there.
“One of the main strengths of the team is that we have a young team, which means our girls are able to recover much faster, adapt and learn information and absorb information very quickly as well,” said the captain.
“Inshallah, we will make you proud,” Maria said confidently.
Maria is one of two foreign players selected by the Pakistan Football Federation for the SAFF Cup. Maria is still part of the Pakistani football circuit since 2018 and has not only participated in national camps but also participated in the national women’s football championship.
Talking about her background, Maria said she started playing football 25 years ago when she was six years old.
“My experience started in the United States, where I started playing at the age of six. I went from outfield player to goalkeeper, then I continued to play goalkeeper throughout throughout my time in the U.S. I played Division 1 football at the University of Denver,” she said.
“After college I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. At that time the women’s pro league in the United States was very volatile, there would be a season when it was on and a season when it was not. So pursuing a career as a professional footballer in 2013, even in the United States, was not a realistic option. So I decided to continue my education and ended up in the United Arab Emirates and played football professionally,” Maria recalls.
Speaking about her first game, the footballer said it was an honor to lead and represent the country and she would do it to the best of her abilities.
“Inshallah, on September 7, I will have the opportunity to earn my first international cap. It’s an absolute honor to be in the position I’m in. It’s been quite a journey for me, I’ve waited over 20 years to get this chance there are a lot of emotions I had the opportunity to help lead this team and my role in this team is only a small role compared to to the role that every girl on this team plays,” she said.
The American-born footballer added that the pre-SAFF Cup training camp was an “absolutely amazing” experience and it helped her develop not only as a player on the pitch, but also as a person and human being off the pitch.
