Odisha FCW rope in Indian international Pyari Xaxa

The ISL outfit launched its women's team on July 1 earlier this year.

Odisha FC Women (FCW) have signed Indian Women’s National Team star forward and fan favorite Pyari Xaxa for the upcoming season. The Odisha girl is the first player to be unveiled by the Indian Super League club’s Women’s team.

Hailing from Jhartarang in the Sundergarh district of Odisha, Pyari made her international breakthrough with the U-19 National Team in the AFC U19 campaign, in 2014. She was awarded the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year in 2015 for her eye-catching performances in the tournament, and in 2020-21 won the Indian Football Fans Player of the Year.

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Known famously for her lightning speed and mighty strength, Pyari Xaxa began her club career at local club Kumarmunda. She was part of the Rising Student Club team from Odisha that won the Indian Women’s League in 2017-2018. After representing Odisha Police and Sports Odisha previously, Pyari will be donning the purple rain of Odisha FCW next.

Club President Raj Athwal said, “We are thrilled with Pyari Xaxa joining us at Odisha FCW for the coming season. With Pyari, the club has secured an important player not just for the team but for all the girls in Odisha who have a young icon to aspire to. We are excited by the prospect of her playing for OFC Women and wish her all the best.”

Odisha FC launch women's team

Earlier on July 1, Odisha FC announced the launch of their Senior Women's Team. On the holy occasion of ‘Rath Yatra’, an auspicious day for all Odias, the Indian Super League (ISL) club from Odisha released a video to mark their entry into the Women’s game, while revealing their Head Coach in a separate announcement shortly after.

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The club roped in A-Licensed coach and former player Crispin Chettri as the first Head Coach of the Women’s team. Chettri had a successful season as the Head Coach of Sethu FC, ending his stint at the Madurai-based club as Runner-up in the recently concluded Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Odisha is not new to the ex-Mohun Bagan player, as he was the Odisha State Women’s team coach that had a successful run in the Senior Women's National Football Championship last year.

The aim to have a professional women’s team from one of the major hotbeds of Indian women’s football was always a clear ambition for the Club’s owners. After the delay due to Covid-19, the club brought in an experienced football administrator and former GM of NorthEast United FC, Randeep Baruah, to structure the women's football department.

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Randeep, who is currently the Head of Academy & Women’s Football at OFC, was working behind the scenes in the buildout of the Women’s team for months. Now the club is ready to take the next steps in its first professional season.

Odisha FC Women will participate in the next Odisha Women’s League and compete to win the tournament and qualify for the IWL through the State Qualifiers. They will face stiff competition from traditional powerhouses Odisha Police, East Coast Railways, and newcomers Sports Odisha who participated in the recently concluded IWL.

However, the club’s ambition is to be a competitive team not only in a state famous for its women’s football talent but also in the larger Indian and Asian Women’s football context.

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