SPORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN A GAME. MEET FARKHUNDA MUHTAJ!

We are thrilled to announce the next feature in our ongoing blog series, Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead. Throughout 2025, we will highlight various women leaders who advocate for gender equity, believe in the power of sport, and continue to support and amplify the need to get more girls in sport and physical activity. They are women who broke down barriers (and continue to do so), are leaders in their fields, and who hope to leave an impact on their sectors. We’re so excited for our series to continue by chatting with Farkhunda Muhtaj, pro soccer player and community ambassador with the Northern Super League‘s (NSL) Calgary Wild FC. She is also the co-founder of the Scarborough Simbas, developed Ayenda FC, and serves on the NSL’s Player Advisory Committee.

Born in Afghanistan to parents who were once refugees, Farkhunda Muhtaj arrived in Canada at the age of two. “I was extremely grateful for all the resources and supports I had at my disposal, and I really wanted to take advantage of it so that I can give back to Canada, Afghanistan, and the global community in a positive way,” she reflects.

From a young age, soccer became more than a game. It was a way to grow, to belong, and to dream beyond the limits imposed on her. Her family’s unwavering support was crucial. “I was very lucky to have a family that fully supports you, whether you’re male or female in sport, and that’s actually quite the opposite of many Middle Eastern communities,” she explains. That encouragement propelled her through rep soccer, academy soccer, and eventually to varsity soccer at York University, where she juggled the demands of academics, athletics, and coaching.

I was extremely grateful for all the resources and supports I had at my disposal, and I really wanted to take advantage of it so that I can give back to Canada, Afghanistan, and the global community in a positive way.”

Her path, however, was never just about personal achievement. Even as a young athlete, she was acutely aware of the gaps in opportunity for women and girls in sport. “90% of female C-suite leaders have a sport background. Sport teaches you far beyond what you physically see, the leadership, time management, communication, all of that is so transferable to everyday life,” she says. And she wanted every girl to have the same chance to thrive.

That drive led her to see unmet needs in her own community. During the pandemic, many nonprofit programs for young athletes were shuttered, and field space was reserved for paid programs. “That’s when I saw how disproportionately affected the refugee and newcomer community was, and I co-founded Scarborough Simbas- a nonprofit organization that uses sport to ease the settlement journey of refugees and newcomers to Canada,” she recalls. Her vision was simple: create a safe, accessible space for young people to play, grow, and belong.

Her leadership extended far beyond Canada. In 2021, when the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, she stepped up as captain of the national team to help evacuate players and their families to Portugal. “At a time where there were no commercial flights, borders were closed, and Taliban checkpoints were everywhere,” she says, describing a tense month of planning and coordination. After successfully relocating the families, she even stayed in Portugal for years to help build a culturally sensitive support system and develop an unofficial Afghan youth women’s team, Ayenda FC.

That’s when I saw how disproportionately affected the refugee and newcomer community was, and I co-founded Scarborough Simbas- a nonprofit organization that uses sport to ease the settlement journey of refugees and newcomers to Canada.”

Even with her international experiences, home remained a priority. “As soon as I knew the NSL was going to happen, it was a no-brainer for me to come home and play on our home soil, and be able to impact our own communities here,” she says, now playing for Calgary Wild FC while serving as a community ambassador.

Her focus has always been on the bigger picture- ensuring girls not only enter sport, but thrive in it. She’s candid about the barriers girls face. “We know that two-thirds of girls leave sport by the time they’re teens, and that’s just a ridiculous statistic that needs to be reduced,” she says. “We can get kids and young girls in sport, but if we don’t build a safe environment for them to stay in sport, they’re going to leave. Young girls already know they love sport. It’s the people around them who need to understand the value of keeping them in it.”

In Calgary specifically, she sees gaps that are both structural and cultural. “It disappoints me that young Black girls are not playing sport, or girls from different backgrounds are not playing sport. Maybe it’s the environment we’ve built where young girls don’t see themselves reflected in it, and so they hesitate to even be a part of it. There’s not a lot of community-based organizations where young girls can just come in and try sport and see if they enjoy it. We need more grassroots-level sport here,” she says. Her goal is to make the sport ecosystem accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all girls, no matter their background.

Advocacy is great, but action is what’s going to drive change. Get involved, be active, be actively engaged- and know that the people you’re supporting are doing a bigger favour for you than you are to them.”

Within the NSL, she’s also shaping the future of the game in ways that aren’t always visible. “You’re playing in the league and shaping the future of women’s sport in that way, but you’re also shaping what people will never see and never understand, the work that goes on behind the scenes,” she explains. “It’s a brand new club, so you have a lot of autonomy to do things the way you want and the way you feel like your community will benefit from.” Her involvement extends beyond the pitch, connecting with league leadership through the Player Advisory Committee and guiding decisions that will impact players and communities for years to come.

Her philosophy is simple: action matters more than words. “Advocacy is great, but action is what’s going to drive change,” she says. “Get involved, be active, be actively engaged- and know that the people you’re supporting are doing a bigger favour for you than you are to them.” It’s an approach rooted in humility, gratitude, and service, and it underscores her belief in the transformative power of sport.

At the heart of her journey is a lesson in selflessness and leadership. “It’s one thing to have the tools and knowledge for yourself, but it’s another thing to be willing and selfless to share it with others,” she reflects. Whether it’s mentoring, coaching, or building programs from the ground up, her work demonstrates that sport is more than just a game- it’s a vehicle for empowerment, community, and global citizenship.

For her, soccer has always been a platform to make a difference. Every practice, match, and initiative reflects a commitment to lifting others up, shaping the future of sport, and inspiring the next generation of girls to believe in their power both on and off the field.

Our Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead blog series highlights women in leadership positions who are passionate about empowering girls through sport, physical activity and education. Launched in January 2025, the series will highlight various women throughout 2025. If you are interested in learning more or supporting this series, please email us at info@girlsforward.ca