Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Odisha FC Women’s team is all set to play their maiden IWL. They hope to start the season on a positive note after they roped in the former India team’s captain Bala Devi, the 26-year-old Brazilian defender Cynthia Marcondes dos Santos, and the Ghanian International Faustina Worwornyo Akpo. Their first match will take place at 4:30 PM IST at TransStadia, Gujarat against Central Reserve Police Force Football Club.
The versatile and talented Cynthia will be the first-ever Brazilian to play in the IWL. Akpo’s fabulous season with Al-Naser Women in the Jordan Women’s League, and her attacking prowess earned her a place in Odisha. Ngangom Bala Devi is also on the list of stars. Her contributions to the national team, state team, and clubs add to her vast reputation. With multiple accolades, Devi is set to bring her treasures back to the IWL after spending some time with the Scottish club Rangers FC.
The team is more decorated with the addition of Odia National Team players like Pyari Xaxa, Juli Kishan, and Manisa Panna who add flair to the team.
The Eastern Drakainas Journey so Far
Odisha FC Women’s team played the Odisha Women’s League (OWL), their first tournament as a team, and were undefeated in the 10 matches they played. They went on to win the league after a finale-day battle with East Coast Railways.
The Odisha state team displayed a relentless performance in the Women’s NFC against Rajasthan. They piled up goals from every corner and scored 12 goals conceding none. Odisha FC players Jasoda Munda, Malati Munda, and Bannya Kabiraj found the goalpost and added their names to the scoresheet.
Central Reserve Police Force Football Club – the major women’s team in the Punjab region, has won the Punjab Women’s League the most number of times (four) after the league’s inception in 2018. The latest title coming in the 2022-2023 season.
All the matches, from group stages to finals, are to be held in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. After the group stages, the top four teams of each group qualify for the quarterfinals. These four teams from each group that qualify for the quarterfinals will also get a direct entry to the next season of the IWL.
With such prolific teams in group B of IWL’s sixth season, an extraordinary challenge awaits Odisha FC.
