7 June 2023, Bengaluru, India
After only hosting the first-ever professional football game in 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium, Odisha has come a long way in developing the sport in the state. Finally, the time has arrived when the mighty Kalinga Stadium hosts Bhubaneswar’s first-ever Senior Men’s International Tournament, the Hero Continental Cup.
Odisha’s inclusion in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) via Odisha FC gave a new prospect to the state and its people. With people coming from different corners of the state to watch the games, progress was evident. Only with the government’s support it was possible to open a new door to the people of Odisha and every passionate football lover.
Playing in the ISL is not an easy affair, and Odisha managed to achieve their best season in the 2022-23 season by qualifying for the knockout stages of the league. After Odisha FC was formed in 2019, it is the best results to date.
Odisha FC were on the edge of triumph when they faced a strong Bengaluru FC team in the Hero Super Cup final in Kerala. It was a proud moment as Odisha clinched their first domestic title by beating Bengaluru FC. It was a fairytale journey that ended with Odisha emerging victorious in Super Cup and, later on, making their way into the Asian Cup league after beating Gokulam Kerala FC in a playoff match.
Odisha FC reached completed huge milestones with the Odisha government’s help and support. Apart from Odisha FC, the government has also made amends for the I-League side Indian Arrows to play in the capital city and make it their preferred place.
Odisha government has made many such contributions for football to grow in the state and country. The government bagged the bid to host Hero Gold Cup in 2019 at the Kalinga Stadium.
Supporting Women’s Football was also a prime subject the government was holding dear. Teams participating in the tournament were India, Myanmar, Nepal, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Myanmar emerged victorious, but we cannot deny that this tournament was a huge step forward for Indian Women’s Football, who were preparing for the AFC 2020 Olympic Qualification.
Sticking to their agendas and objectives, the Odisha government made sure women’s football must not lose its integrity. Odisha Women’s League is a great example. In the latest edition of the OWL, Odisha FC launched their women’s team to compete in such competitions of domestic and national importance.
Odisha FC started their first OWL campaign with a title-clinching performance after scoring tons of goals and winning the league. It was only the start, but the real test was waiting in Gujrat, where the Indian Women’s League was held. Competing and making it to the knockout phase was nothing less than a victory for the team, but they lost to Gokulam Kerala’s women’s team in the Semi-Final clash.
The last few years have been overwhelming for Odisha and its football fans. With such milestones already in the bag, Odisha was far from done. Hosting the U-17 Women’s FIFA World Cup was a breathtaking moment. Hosting a tournament of such a high caliber made Odisha a global hit and opened multiple possibilities.
Having strong government policies helped in making it easier to host multiple tournaments and leagues in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Stadium. The U-20 SAFF Championship was another project under the guidance of the Odisha government. Eventually playing at the Kalinga, India emerged as champions.
Apart from all these contributions to the world of Football in Odisha and India, Odisha’s involvement in developing the sport has taken a whole new step. After securing almost ₹100 crores in investment, the government of Odisha has made it possible to launch three football training centers in the capital city.
Inaugurated by CM Naveen Patnaik, Odisha unveiled the world of football with Odisha Football Academy, Bhubaneswar Football Academy, and Capital Arena Football, which aim toward the development of the sport in the state.
