SAI-Odisha Football Club Grassroot Partnership Launched

The Odisha Football Club, in its bid to encourage football culture in the state, has launched SAI-Odisha Football Club (FC) Partnership at SAI International School, Bhubaneswar, on Monday. As a first of its kind endeavor in Odisha, SAI International School will give a pathway to students to become professional football players through this association.

The partnership includes creating state teams of both boys and girls in the Under-7, Under-9 and Under-11 category. Odisha FC will guide the School to develop a structured training programme both for boys and girls. The school coaches will be guided with coaching methodology and curriculum to provide elite level training in the campuses of SAI International School and SAI International residential School, on a weekly basis.

On the occasion, Vishal Dev, Secretary, Youth and Sports Department, Government of Odisha said that this partnership will create an eco-system for a brighter development of football in the state. He further stated that the programme gives the state an opportunity to tap the potential of the young football players from across Odisha.

Martin Bain, CEO of Indian Super League, who was present at the launching of the programme, said that the smile and enthusiasm of the people of India for football pulled him to the country. He also elaborated on the importance of football club culture which is to bring together people with a love for the game and collaboratively develop the sport.

Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder, SAI International Education Group, said that this partnership is a momentous occasion for the school and will give impetus to the students to pursue the game with heightened dedication.

The other dignitaries present at the launching ofn the programme, were Rohan Sharma, Owner, Odisha Football League, Josep Gombau, Head Coach, Odisha FC, Thangboi Singto, Assistant Coach, Odisha FC.

This is the first grassroot school partnership in the Club’s history. And it aims to work towards tapping the sporting potential of the children of the state. The collaboration will start the first AIFF Golden Baby League in Odisha which will be an inter-school league with matches played every week for over a period of time.

The Government of Odisha, in association with Delhi Soccer Private Limited, launched the Odisha Football Club (FC) for the Indian Super League (ISL) in Odisha, comprising of renowned national and international fooballers.