This will be a unique program that will help young footballers improve their skills and be educated on the fundamentals of the sport.
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Bhubaneswar-based Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Odisha FC has introduced the ‘Odisha FC Digital Grassroots Academy’. This will be a unique program that will help young footballers improve their skills and be educated on the fundamentals of the sport. OFC has a vision regarding the development and promotion of young and talented players from Odisha and across India, and wants to make the program accessible to every player in the state with the help of the club’s digital platforms. The link to the registration form is available on the Club’s digital platforms and the program is scheduled to begin from 20th June.
Explaining further about the program, OFC’s Grassroots Manager Mr. Suvam Das said, “This program is to make the best of the situation we are in. It’s a well-structured series of weekly webinars which will be followed by simple drills by Odisha FC stars to challenge the participants. And our youth coaches Mr. Sandeep Alhan and Mr. Kirti Kashyap will monitor these skills to help them improve.”
Club President Mr. Raj Athwal expressed his delight over the initiative.
“I am delighted that ‘Odisha FC Digital Grassroots Academy’ is starting this month. It will be a unique way to impart knowledge and teach footballing skills to young footballers of the State. I am hopeful that more and more kids will join this program and can improve their skills through this program,” he stated.
CEO Rohan Sharma termed youth development as a priority of the club.
“Grassroots and youth development has always been a priority at Odisha FC. We firmly believe in developing the next generation into footballers and it has been painful not to be able to do so for the past year. This is our small way of getting back to normal and help those who want to chase their dreams in Odisha to be footballers,” he said.
Odisha FC recently announced the signing of defender Sahil Panwar ahead of the upcoming eighth edition of the footballing league. The 21-year-old has signed a two-year deal with an option to extend for a third year. Sahil has joined from the Hyderabad-based franchise for an undisclosed transfer fee. The move shall be officially completed after the Indian transfer window opens this summer.
The Dehradun-born left-back played for Pune City and Hyderabad FC in 37 matches, after making his professional debut for the former in the fourth edition of the ISL. Sahil has represented the country in various age-group tournaments. He also captained Team India in the 2017 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) U-18 Championship.
The Odisha-based franchise has further signed defender Sebastian Thangmuansang. Thangmuansang recently won the I-League title with Gokulam Kerala FC. He had also represented NEROCA and Chennai City FC in the I-League after his youth career at Pune.
The franchise recently reached an agreement with winger Jerry Mawihmingthanga over a contract extension, that saw the winger from Mizoram retained on a long term contract. The 24-year-old winger, with five assists from 17 games, recorded the maximum number of assists by an Indian in the previous season.
