Bhubaneswar: In a shocking defeat from Sreebhumi FC on Wednesday, Odisha FC the defending champion of Indian Women League (IWL) is relegated from IWL. Once the State was a powerhouse of women football and has sent shockwaves among the football lovers.
Odisha FC, a professional team aimed at nurturing local talent. The team’s rise to prominence, culminating in an IWL championship and qualification for the AFC Champions League in 2023, which was a landmark achievement for the state.
Odisha FC’s relegation to IWL 2, following a poor performance in the 2023-24 season, has exposed serious cracks in the system. The team, despite being a former champion and AFC participant, struggled this season.
With key losses, including a decisive 0-3 defeat against Sreebhumi FC, the team found itself fighting relegation with just one match left. Surprisingly the Coach of Odisha FC Crispin Chhetri is the current Indian Women’s Team also. Odisha FC gathered 12 points by the end of 13 league matches, they lost seven, drew three and won only three matches.
The collapse of Odisha FC was not purely down to poor performance on the field. The management of women’s football by key bodies, such as the Odisha Sports Department, Football Association of Odisha (OFA), and even the Police Department.
The most disheartening is that this crisis is not just about one team’s downfall, but about the future of an entire generation of women footballers in Odisha. With fewer opportunities in the IWL, and with the state’s women players unable to compete at the highest level, the dream of professional football careers for many young women is slowly slipping away.
The Government and key footballing institutions, especially the Football Association of Odisha, must analyse the current crisis. It is time for the state to re-evaluate its approach to women’s football and provide the necessary support to nurture talent.
