BHUBANESWAR 09-Apr-2012 168
East Coast Railway (ECoR) today provided employment to 10 woman footballers of Odisha today. The 10 include Supriya Routray, Swarnamayee Samal (both from Cuttack); Bijaylaxmi Sahoo, Janjali Sahoo, Madhusmita Barik, Sangita Patra (all from Kendrapara); Manisha Panna, Pratima Minz (both from Rourkela); Jhili Munda and Lochana Munda (both from Sambalpur).
According to East Coast Railway Sports Association president Dilip Kumar Samantaray, three players have been recruited in Grade C and the other seven in Grade D. ``The plan to recruit a women`s football team from Odisha was under process for past two years. It finally materialised thanks to special initiative taken by ECoR General Manager Indra Ghosh and Railway Board Executive Director (Sports) Jhanja Tripathy,`` said Samantaray.
``ECoR is also planning to set up a Centre of Excellence for woman footballers in Bhubaneswar so that eminent players such as former India captain Sradhanjali Samantaray can find opportunity to groom youngsters,`` he added.
Football Association of Odisha (FAO) secretary Sanjay Behera described the employment of woman footballers as a blessing for the game in the state and thanked the railway authorities, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, State Sports Director Saswat Mishra and Odisha Olympic Association secretary Asirbad Behera for their valuable support in the matter.
``Woman footballers have made Odisha the number one state in the country. Thanks to the hardwork of the women footballers, who are basically from poor and tribal background, Odisha is now enjoying the status as both Senior National and National Games champions. The employment has come as big morale booster for the players,`` said the FAO secretary.
