After Odisha FC lose local sponsorship deals, owner Rohan Sharma reveals challenges ISL club faces

The Juggernauts lost some notable principal sponsors during the ongoing 2024-2025 ISL season.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma recently took to X while voicing out his frustrations and sharing insights into the challenges of running the club. In a passionate set of tweets on X, Sharma revealed that the local sponsors have withdrawn their support following a change in the state government.

Referring to the club website, any observer can notice sponsors like Serajuddin Responsible Mining, Rungta Steel and Jindal Panthers have dropped out mid-season, leaving the club grappling with financial uncertainty. Despite these setbacks, he reaffirmed his commitment to the club and its fans to continue to do what’s best for the men’s, women’s and youth teams.

The tweet shows Sharma’s dedication and devotion to advancing the club’s best interests even during challenging times.

I’ve done what I can. We’ve built a competitive mens team women’s team and we acknowledge we need to do more in youth. Our local sponsors have all pulled out since the government changed and I’m still trying to serve something special to all the fans.

— Rohan (@RohanSharma915) January 3, 2025

Odisha FC has come a long way  

In his 3rd January tweet, Sharma outlined the progress Odisha FC has made under his leadership, including building competitive men’s and women’s teams in the ISL and Indian Women’s League (IWL). He also acknowledged the need for greater investment in youth development, a critical area for nurturing the future of football in the region. While showcasing his ambition for the club despite the tough circumstances, he tweeted, “We’ve built a competitive men’s team, women’s team, and we acknowledge we need to do more in youth.”

However, Sharma lamented the sudden withdrawal of sponsorship support, which he attributed to political changes in the state, underlining how shifts in political landscapes can have significant ripple effects on sports franchises that rely on local support. The loss of sponsors is a major blow to Odisha FC, a club that has been striving to establish itself as a force in Indian football.  

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Odisha FC remains defiant in the face of adversity

Despite these hurdles, Sharma reaffirmed his commitment to delivering a unique and memorable experience for Odisha FC’s fans. In his series of tweets, Sharma highlighted how sponsor exodus hasn’t affected the club even though it has taken more on the owner.

While talking about how he runs the club, Sharma tweeted, “A lot of clubs have had similar issues and you’ve seen the result on and off the pitch. Despite everything we are active in our transfer windows and I still ensure we are making good signings and coaches to give the people of Odisha something to be proud of. It means a lot to us.”

Rohan Sharma speaks out against fan backlash

The Juggernauts, based in Bhubaneswar, have made significant strides in Indian football, becoming a mainstay in the ISL. However, the current financial challenges may impact these efforts unless new partnerships and solutions are secured. It has led to fans of the club calling out the owner to rectify the situation.

While addressing the fan callouts, he tweeted, “It’s always the club+fans 1st for evry1 working at OFC even if it’s not in my best interest to do so. So when I see the fan base telling me to “come outside” and never apologize. Or when some fans claim They ask questions but it’s only to frame us in a bad light and no other party. It bothers me so much because it’s all we do is care.”

Looking to build on in the new year, Sharma also revealed that this attempt was to get some things off his chest ahead of 2025. While he expressed how hurt he was by the entire situation, he ended with the positive belief that the club would bounce back on their feet.

As Odisha FC navigates this challenging period, the club’s resilience and the unwavering support of its fans will be crucial in shaping its path forward. It will be interesting to see where the Juggernauts end up come the end of the regular season standings.

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