Calgary Wild FC has named Afghan-Canadian midfielder Farkhunda Muhtaj as its first player signing and also announced Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey as an investor in the soccer club.

Wild FC is one of six Northern Super League teams that will begin play in 2025 in a Canadian women’s professional soccer league.

Muhtaj, 26, was captain of the Afghanistan women’s soccer team when it played internationally and also played Canadian university soccer at York, where she was also captain.

Her parents immigrated to Toronto from Afghanistan when she was two years old.

From her home in Canada, she helped evacuate the girls’ team and their families from Afghanistan in 2021, after the Taliban takeover of the country, where women and girls were no longer allowed to sports.

As part of a mission called Football Operations, it was Muhtaj who was in contact with the girls and their families and helped them get out safely from Afghanistan to Portugal.

Having also played professionally in Türkiye and the Netherlands, Muhtaj says he signed with Calgary because of the club’s mission on and off the field.

“I knew there would be fierce competitors on the field and they would have that winning mentality, but off the field they wanted to make sure the purpose, the intention and the social impact and initiatives communities were at the forefront and really providing access to newcomers, women and girls, and ensuring that they are empowered for life through sport,” she said at a Friday. press conference in downtown Calgary.

Calgary native Morrissey and his wife Margot joined the club’s founding investor group.

Morrissey, 29, entered his 10th season with the Winnipeg Jets and was in Calgary ahead of Saturday’s game against the Flames.

“With the success that our Canadian women’s national team has had on the international stage over the last few years, to think that we don’t have a professional league in Canada is a little crazy,” Morrissey said.

“Since my wife and I both spend our off season here in Calgary, it’s a natural fit.”

Muhtaj, whose name is pronounced FARK’-hoon-da MOO’-taj, continues to use sport to support the settlement of refugees in Canada through the Scarborough Simbas recreational football team and the Foundation of Ayenda FC, which is the unofficial Afghan national youth football organization. Team in 2021.

“We often dehumanize individuals who are going through difficult situations, especially when it comes to the Middle East or war, because we feel like it has become normal for too long,” she said.

“What I hope to do is help individuals become aware of the human behind all the obstacles and difficulties, but also of the resilience that results from them, of the determination to get out of these situations, and then also when “They heal from this, how they can use sport as a catalyst for change.”

Morrissey says the signing of Muhtaj was a big first for a team he now co-owns.

“I got to hear his story and it’s just amazing,” he said. “That’s something that I think this league will really do for extraordinary athletes is be able to give them a platform in Canada to tell their stories, stories like Far’s, which are breathtaking.

“For Calgary FC here, having someone like her in the fold is really a huge addition, not only on the field, but off the field as well, and what she can add to the community, and how she can telling his story is inspiring.

Professional women’s soccer teams in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver are scheduled to begin play in April 2025.

The NSL was founded by Diana Matheson, a former Canadian team player and two-time Olympic bronze medalist.

Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair is on board as co-owner of the Vancouver Rise.

The Wild introduced Lara Murphy as the club’s general manager and Lisa Oldridge as financial and operational director earlier this week. The team will play at McMahon Stadium.

Murphy pointed out that Muhtaj could have chosen to sign with AFC Toronto of the NSL.

“Monumental for the announcement of the first player, the community activism, who she is as a human on and off the field,” Murphy said.

“It speaks volumes about what we are doing and what the province will benefit from.”

Given the profile of NHL players in Canada, the CEO calls Morrissey’s involvement important.

“It’s amazing that Josh has taken this step forward because it opens the door for further investment and how we can support men in sport and men can support women in sport,” he said. Murphy said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 25, 2024.