Sports

Maria Jamila’s Spellbinding Performance Bags Best Player Award at 4-Nation Women’s Football Tournament

by Ayesal A
written by Ayesal A
maria khan

Pakistani footballer Maria Jamila Khan has taken over social media as her captivating goal against Saudi Arabia levelled the playing field for her team at the 4-Nation Women’s Football Tournament.

In the first half, Saudi Arabia took a 1-0 lead. The hosts won a free-kick inside their own half and it was put into Pakistan’s half, which was anticipated by Pakistan’s defender but Saudi number nine Albandari Mubarak was quick and sharp as she snatched a loose ball ran into the box to place the ball into the right corner.

However, Khan’s goal during the free kick in the 65th minute levelled the play for Pakistan giving them a chance to come back into the game and resulting in a draw.

Khan, also the skipper of Pakistan’s women’s football team gave an empowering speech at the end of the match that has also gone viral.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) uploaded a video where the Pakistan skipper gives an emotional speech after the match,

“If this tournament doesn’t show you that we belong, I don’t know what else will. Every one of you stepped up when you needed to step up. Every single sub that came on made a difference in the game. This is the standard and we are only gonna get better. Now that we have seen that every single one of you can step up, guys, it’s only up from here. Upwards and onwards,” she said in the video.

Moreover, she was awarded the ‘Best Player’ award for her outstanding performance in all the games. Pakistan won their first match by 1-0 against opening team Comoros before they lost to Mauritius by 2-1.

Social Media Reactions to Maria Jamila Khan’s Goal

Here’s how netizens reacted to the goal:

Grand daughter of Hashim Khan and won’t do wonders? Maria Jamila Khan for you!!! Wrote squash player Noorena Shams.

The Pakistani woman footballer version of David Beckham: #Pakistan team captain Maria Jamila Khan in an amazing long shot that equalized the match with Saudi Arabia tweeted journalist Ahmed Qureshi.

Zameer Ahmed Malik took to Twitter to pen: So proud to see that Pakistan stands at a road leading towards progress.  Maria Jamila Khan and these all-girls are a symbol of progress for all of us.

Maria Jamila Khan – The 3rd Generation of Heros

The American-born Pakistani professional footballer is also the granddaughter of squash champion Hashim Khan. Maria’s goal was something out of the blue that not many expected.

Khan’s passion is driven by her mother’s support as she was the one who took her kids to football practices and even flew out to Nepal to support her daughter’s captaincy and the team.

Maria Jamila Khan is a third-generation Pakistani hero who is an inspiration to many Pakistani women and girls.

Kudos to Khan and the entire team.

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