Odisha’s Football Revolution: Chief Minister Inaugurates Three Training Centres Ahead of Intercontinental Cup 2023

The Football fever in Odisha is about to go into overdrive with the inauguration of three football training centers built at a cost of Rs 90 crore. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, along with India National Team Captain Sunil Chhetri inaugurated the centres on Wednesday ahead of the four-nation Intercontinental Cup 2023 scheduled in June.

The Odisha Football Academy, Bhubaneswar Football Academy and the Capital Arena Football are set to revolutionise football training in Odisha. The centres boast a total of six FIFA certified pitches, five natural and one synthetic turf, along with LED lights and changing rooms for players. 

This initiative is part of a larger effort to promote football in Odisha. The Chief Minister said that the initiative is intended to provide the youth with more opportunities to pursue their dreams in the field, while also creating new avenues for employment and economic growth. 

The Football Academy will help bring together budding talents from across the state under one roof and create an environment to hone their skills. It will also provide a platform to the state’s best players to represent India in the Intercontinental Cup 2023 and other international events. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Chhetri said that the initiative will bring about positive changes in Football training and infrastructure development for Odisha’s youth. He also praised the efforts of the Odisha government in promoting a sport that has been an integral part of India’s sporting culture. 

The launch of these training centres is expected to open up new avenues for employment, tourism and economic growth in Odisha. The state government has expressed their commitment to continue supporting the growth of football by providing better infrastructure and opportunities to the youth.