Orphan girl``s dream to get Natl cap shattered

The National footbal federation has included two players from Orissa in a 22-member National squad for participation in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-13 Girls`` Football Festival to be held in Vietnam from June 21 to 29. But more than the duo``s inclusion, the non-inclusion of another girl from the state has made news. The fact that Mamali Das happens to be an orphan and lack of a passport deprived her a berth in the National squad has become the subject of heartburn in the state football fraternity. According to a release from Odisha State Women``s Football Association, the women``s football wing of Orissa Football Association, three players from the state — Subha Prava Rout, Karisma Oram and Mamali Das — had been called to attend National under-13 camps at Bhopal and Gwalior. Impressed by the trio``s performance in the camps, the selectors were said to have decided to include all of them in the National squad. Accordingly they informed the state body to arrange passports for the girls.