Odisha, AIFF Discuss Revival of FIFA Talent Academy and New Grassroots Football System
State aims to integrate football training into schools and build a strong district-level feeder network
Bhubaneswar: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Odisha government have begun discussions to renew the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in the state, while also planning a major expansion of grassroots football development. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey met senior state officials in Bhubaneswar to outline a roadmap that strengthens youth training, district-level scouting, and football education in schools.
Chaubey held a meeting with Odisha Sports Secretary Sachin R. Jadhav to review the continuation of the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy, which has been playing a key role in grooming young players. Both sides discussed upgrading training systems, improving infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for U15 and U16 athletes.
Later, the AIFF President met Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Football Association of Odisha President Tankadhar Tripathi, and MLA Jayanarayan Mishra.
These discussions revolved around developing a clear feeder system across all districts of Odisha—ensuring that talented players from rural and urban areas get access to structured training and national-level pathways.
A major focus of the meeting was aligning football development with the National Education Policy (NEP). The plan includes strengthening Physical Education (PE) training in schools, improving sports periods, and ensuring schools become the first level of scouting. AIFF and Odisha officials also considered appointing former footballers as D-Licensed coaches to guide young players with professional expertise.
The goal is to ensure that every block and district has trained coaches, proper football sessions, and a clear route for young players to move from school teams to district academies and eventually to national camps.
Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said Odisha remains deeply committed to creating a strong football culture.
“Odisha is fully committed to nurturing football talent right from the grassroots level. By integrating sports into the school ecosystem, we aim to identify and nourish young students across every block, providing them with world-class coaching and structured pathways,” he said.
He added that the state and AIFF share a common vision of building a feeder system capable of producing players who can represent India internationally.
During his visit, Chaubey also interacted with the U15 and U16 squads at the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy. He encouraged the players, assessed their progress, and assured continued support for enhancing their training environment.
With Odisha’s strong sports infrastructure and AIFF’s expanded grassroots initiatives, both sides are optimistic that the state could become a major talent hub for Indian football.
