Bhubaneswar: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday announced the Indian Women League (IWL) 2024-25 fixture, surprisingly the only State Government managed professional women football Club, Sports Odisha team withdrawn from the only professional national women football league.
The Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who was a football player and football enthusiast always gave priority for the development of soccer sports in the State. However, the ground reality is different from the promises.
Prior to this year's IWL season, A one-month long camp for 30 women players was held at Bhubaneswar for the IWL 2023-24 season, but the Sports and Youth Services Department of Odisha could not submit the registration documents for this season. The reason is better known to the Government officials, said the sources without disclosing her name.
Being the host State for IWL 2021-22 season the Sports Odisha and Odisha Police teams were given the opportunity to participate in the league, while the Sports Odisha team finished at fourth place. As per the qualification criteria top four teams qualify for the IWL 2022-23 held at Gujarat.
Subsequently the Sports Odisha team was awarded direct qualification for the 2023–24 season and 2024-25 season. The Odisha women footballers always proved their mettle and had a lion's share in the national team.
Despite qualifying for the IWL 2024-2025 season, If the State women football players will not get the opportunities to participate in the highly rated national league, what is the use of developing such a number of international FIFA recommended football grounds in the State, the sources added.
On other hand, the league will commence on January 10, the State is going to host the inaugural match here at Kalinga Stadium between defending champions Odisha FC against East Bengal FC.
