Football Distribution: 6848 Balls to 1260 Schools Across 17 Odisha Districts
GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 12th Feb. In a collaborative effort between the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, All India Football Federation (AIFF), and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the ambitious Football for Schools (F4S) programme has been initiated for school students nationwide. The programme aims to enhance the accessibility of football for students, irrespective of gender, by seamlessly integrating football-related activities into the education system.
On February 9, 2024, a total of 6848 footballs were distributed to 1260 schools across 17 districts of Odisha. The distribution ceremony took place at the Nodal district NVS in the presence of local dignitaries from various sectors.
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the distribution on December 2, 2023, from JNV Cuttack, Odisha, marking the kick-off of the programme. Subsequently, footballs were distributed in Odisha’s Angul, Dhenkanal, and Deogarh districts, as well as in Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in a phased manner.
An MoU was previously signed between the Ministry of Education, AIFF, and FIFA on October 30, 2022, with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya serving as the Nodal organization for the F4S programme. The programme aims to distribute over 11 lakh FIFA footballs across the country, benefiting more than 1.50 lakh schools.
As part of capacity building, the department conducted a master training programme at three venues – Sambalpur, Pune, and Bengaluru – involving around 300 physical education teachers/trainees from various states, UTs, KVS, NVS, and AIFF. The objective is to train Master Trainers who will further enhance capacity building at the state level.
F4S seeks to contribute to the education, development, and empowerment of around 700 million children worldwide by integrating football activities into the education system. By fostering partnerships and instilling enthusiasm for the sport, the programme aims to introduce the joy of playing football to students while promoting values of teamwork, discipline, and fitness, thereby contributing to their holistic development.
