Wake-up call for care-takers of women`s football

Orissa may claim itself as best or second best of the country in women`s football, but the state will be disheartened to know that the country is nowhere at the international level. Women`s football in India realised the nacked truth when the country`s national team was dropped from the FIFA Women`s World Ranking today. The FIFA stated that the inactive status of the team for more than 18 months as the reason for this decision. Indian women played their last international match in the AFC Women`s Asia Cup 2008 Qualifiers in October 2007, when they went down to Iran 1-4. It is, however, a consolation that 53 other national teams have also been dropped due to the same reason. The Indian team was ranked 50th in the world and 11th in Asia in the last edition of the FIFA Women`s World Ranking. The news of India`s position at the international circuit should serve as a wake-up call for the self-designated care-takers of women`s football in Orissa as they have been taking lot of pride about the achievements of the state in the game.