The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Football Association of Odisha (FAO) came together for a meeting Grassroots Development in the state.

The meeting was held at the Barabati Guest House today and the officials dicussed on Grassroots Development in the age groups between 6 to 12 years. It was decided that the FAO in association with the AIFF would start a Grassroots Development Programme in five districts in the near future.

Suvrat Thatte (Manger – Grassroots Development Program, AIFF) gave a presentation regarding the development of football at Grassroots Level in India. Thatte said that the AIFF has decided to implement a Grassroots Development Programme in Odisha. He also stated that by implementing the AIFF Grassroot Programme the state will benefit in developing football in future. Asirbad Behera (Honorary Secretary, OOA & OCA) opined that this programme will be implemented in Odisha as soon as possible. Sanjay Behera (Honorary Secretarty, FAO) declared that in the initial stage this programme will be implemented in five districts of Odisha.

Bijoy Das (Vice President, FAO), Tadit Kumar Rout(Vice President, FAO), Dillip Kumar Sahoo (Vice President, FAO), Rabi Panda (Vice President, FAO) and Avijit Paul (Joint Secretarty, FAO) were also present. The following members of the Grassroots Development Committee also attended the meeting – Dr. SR Parija, Narendra Kumar Sahoo, Amarendra Singh, Gopal Das, Sk. Salluddin.

Akhsya Das (AFC “B” License Coach & AIFF “D” License Coach Instructor), Rabindra Kumar Parida (Member T&T Committee, FAO), Anup Kumar Patra and Dhiren Pallei (Council Member, FAO) also graced the occassion.