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

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

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

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

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

In a mission called Operations Soccer Balls, it was Muhtaj who was in contact with the young women and their families and helped get them safely out of Afghanistan to Portugal.

After also playing professionally in Türkiye and Holland, Muhtaj says he signed with Calgary because of the club’s mission on and off the court.

“I knew there would be fierce competitors on the court and they would have that winning mentality, but off the court, they wanted to make sure that the purpose and the intent and the drive for social impact and community initiatives were at the forefront and really allowed access . to newcomers, women and girls, and ensure they are empowered for life through sport,” she said at a news conference in downtown Calgary on Friday.

Morrissey, of Calgary, and his wife Margot have joined the club’s founding investment group.

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

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

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

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

“We often dehumanize people who are going through difficult situations, and specifically when it comes to the Middle East or war, because we feel like this has been normalized for too long,” he said.

“What I hope to do is help people realize the human being behind all the obstacles and difficulties, but also the resilience that comes with that, the determination to get out of those situations, and then also when they are recovering from that , how they can use sport as a catalyst for change.

Morrissey says signing Muhtaj was a great first win for a team he now co-owns.

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

“For Calgary FC, having someone like her here is really a great contribution not only on the field, but off it as well, and what she can add to the community and the way she can tell her story is inspiring.” .

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

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

Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair is co-owner of Vancouver Rise.

The Wild introduced Lara Murphy as the club’s chief executive and Lisa Oldridge as chief financial and operations officer earlier this week. The team will play at McMahon Stadium.

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

“It’s central to the player’s first announcement, the community activism, who she is as a human being on and off the court,” Murphy said.

“This says a lot about what we are doing and what the province will enjoy.”

Given the profile of NHL players in Canada, the CEO considers Morrissey’s involvement significant.

“It’s amazing that Josh has taken this step forward because it just paves the way for other investment promotion activities and how we can support men in sport and men can support women in sport,” Murphy said .

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