Pak girl makes history by joining UK women’s premier league club

LONDON: First Pakistani women footballer Almira Rafeeque has made history by joining England’s women’s premier league Luton Town Football Club.
Almira Rafeeque agreed to join women’s premier Luton Town football club, after considering offers from Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City FC.
Almira joins the club on a long-term deal and will be making her debut today (Saturday) against Stevenage FC.
British born, 20 year old Almira from Luton had a dream to play and represent Pakistan’s women’s national team. She represented Pakistan for the first time at the South Asian Football Women’s Championship in November last year, and won the national women’s championship twice.
Almira, who is still surprised at the turn in her football career, is thankful to Shehneela Ahmed — Britain’s first Asian female football agent for the English FA for this opportunity and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
The midfielder said she had returned to her home country in 2008 and started playing in Islamabad with Young Rising Stars FC the same year. She later returned to the UK for higher education but once again made her return to the football circuit with the same club back home in 2013.
Shahneela said she believes the youngster can be a role model for many Pakistani girls back home and in other parts of the world, while adding that she was hopeful of Almira’s tryouts with Spurs.
“I’ll be working with Almira and other female footballers as they need proper guidance. I’ll do what I can to help them,” said Shehneela.
On the other hand, PFF official Fahad Khan said that Almira’s tryouts are just the beginning for women’s football in the country.
“England is a good base to pursue a professional footballing career, and we just want our players to have this opportunity to progress,” said Fahad.
“In the next few days for some ladies their dream of playing in the English football league will be a dream come true. I’m excited, this will be a new episode for Pakistan Football especially for our inspiring ladies,” said Shehneela Ahmed.
She said, “I’m amazed with the talent we have in Pakistan’s women national football team. No one was willing to turn the page of excellent opportunities for these ladies, until I took the first step. Just a glimpse of these players from Pakistan women’s football team will surely make you head to the nearest football stadium”.
Fahad Khan said, “Women football in Pakistan has played a frontline role in bringing about a cultural coherence ,curbing the class difference, nailing the ethnic and religious biases and moreover has shown the real face of Pakistan to the world where women are getting equal opportunity like men to show their skill and wear the national flag on their sleeve.”