Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met the players of Odisha FC and East Bengal FC before the start of Kalinga Super Cup 2024 final match between the two teams at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Wishing the teams at the team line-up ahead of their match the chief minister said, “It gives me immense pride to say that Odisha has successfully hosted yet another marquee tournament at the Kalinga Stadium. Being able to host as many as 16 teams simultaneously, providing them with all the facilities, also signifies that Odisha has been making positive strides in football. We aim to further strengthen our partnership with AIFF and support the football development in India.”
“My best wishes to all the participating teams and everyone involved in making this tournament a huge success. I am sure all the teams, players, coaches and officials had a memorable experience in Odisha,” he added.
The atmosphere at the stadium during the match was electrifying with the fans cheering their teams in support.
The Kalinga Super Cup, which started in Bhubaneswar on January 9, has received encouraging response from players, coaches and fans. The state in association with AIFF & FAO, has undertaken various initiatives, including coaching and training programmes and creating quality infrastructure to promote football at the grassroots level.
