Football in Odisha is set to get a big boost at the grassroots level with the start of the U-15 Inter-Club District Level Football Championship for the Chief Minister Cup 2025 from January 16. The ambitious event will be conducted by Football Association of Odisha (FAO) with full support of the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha and all affiliated district units of FAO.

A preparatory meeting for the championship was held today in Cuttack. Office-bearers of FAO and representatives of all affiliated district units were present in the meeting. According to FAO secretary Asirbad Behera, the first phase of the championship will take place in 15 districts.

The 15 districts are: Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Angul, Kendrapara and Khordha. Remaining District championships will be held in subsequent phases.

“Around 280 clubs have been registered for the first-phase competition, which is expected to feature around 6000 budding football players. The State Government will provide kit to all players. The district-level championships will be followed by a State championship,” revealed FAO joint-secretary Avijit Paul.

“The U-15 Inter-Club District Championship is an ambitious project, which aims at identifying football talents from grassroots level by giving them a platform to showcase their skills. The project is sure to strengthen the football ecosystem of the State,” added Paul.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: FAO secretary Asirbad Behera addresses the preparatory meeting of the U-15 Inter-Club District Level Football Championship on 5 January 2025.