As per the latest football news, ISL Club Odisha FC has partnered with Youth for Sustainability (YfS) , an NGO for the development of football in Odisha. They will work together in order to develop football at the grassroots level. They will be touring different parts of Odisha to conduct football-related programs. Youth for Sustainability is a vertical under the Human Circle Foundation. Its major focus is on youth-centric social activities and it has been actively working for the same.
OFC along with YfS will conduct grassroots football programs at various hotspots in Odisha. The program will have an 11 a side game at the end of the day. They will not just preach about football but will also provide footballing equipment to the local football clubs there. They will also look for promising talents to be called up for Odisha FC's youth team camps.
Speaking on the new partnership, Odisha FC's Head of Football Operations Mr. Abhik Chatterjee explained, "Odisha FC’s partnership with YfS underlines our desire for unearthing the best potential talent in the state. We are hoping to ride on their enthusiasm and shared ideals in order to reach out deep into the bowels of Odisha and prise out a robust conveyor belt of local prodigies. This partnership reaffirms our commitment towards youth in the state and our philosophy of providing an opportunity to the best budding talents.”
Grassroots Manager Mr. Suvam Das expressed, "We are happy with this collaboration with YfS. This association will definitely be fruitful for us as well as for football development in Odisha. We have the vision to promote and improve the quality of football in every corner of the State, starting with 15 hotspots. We can make a difference through the OFC Grassroots Tour."
Mr. Kamal Prakash Seth, Co-founder, Human Circle mentioned, "This collaboration is a unique opportunity for both the organisations to reach out to the communities at the grassroots level and encourage them to participate in environment-friendly activities. Football as a game is a great equaliser and it will help in bringing all the relevant stakeholders under one umbrella."
Mr. Punyasloka Panda, National Coordinator, Youth for Sustainability stated, "We call it the Medici effect. The collaboration between a football club and a youth-led initiative for Sustainable Development Goals speaks in volumes of the impact that we wish to make. I have learnt life skills from football, I made my best of friends for life on the ground and now I am working for a cause through the spirit of football. What else could be better?"
