Pakistan women's football team striker Shahlyla Ahmadzai Baloch passed away in a car accident in Karachi late Wednesday night. Her body will be taken to Kalat for burial.
Born in 1996, Baloch was also a member of the Bolochistan women's football team. The sport tied her entire family together, her sister Raheela Zarmain is a manager of the football team. Her mother, Senator Rubina Irfan, has been the chairperson of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Women’s Wing and her father has also been a provincial minister.
An inspiration for all, she reached a significant level of recognition in the country. She started playing football when she was 7-years-old and had received the FIFA's youngest players award. She was also awarded the best player of Pakistan thrice 2009, 2011 and 2013 and took inspiration from global football sensations, Maradona and Messi.
The 20-year-old represented the country at the South Asian Football Federation Women Football Championship 2014 in Islamabad, which marked the last International event that Pakistan women's team competed in.
“She represented Pakistan and was a role model for many girls. Today Shahlyla Baloch died in a car accident. What a shocking news,” FootballPakistan.Com (FPDC) wrote on their Facebook page.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.