Exuberant Orissa gear up to take on seasoned Manipur

A heady mix of youth and experience will rub shoulders when Manipur and Orissa renew acquaintance in the final of the 20th National Women's Football Championship here tomorrow.
"We have nine National Team Players in the first team, and Orissa is full of U-19 Footballers. What better than to see the next generation of Footballers playing with their Senior counterparts in a Cup Final," Oinam Bembem Devi, who's captaining Manipur, said.
"Orissa have done exceptionally well to reach this far. I believe that this Final will further pep up the future India senior team players to give their all against their incumbents. This is healthy competition," added the AIFF Women's Player of the Year who has been part of all of Manipur's incredible adventures in the nationals.

The northeastern outfit has won a mammoth 16 titles out of the 19 championships so far.
"I have always felt that the nationals is the best platform to unearth new talent. I am thankful to AIFF for organising it and I can see that it is already paying rich dividends," the 34-year old former India captain further added.
Echoing the decorated female footballer, goalkeeping coach of the senior national team Chitra Gangadharan who is also part of the AIFF deputed scouting team, adds: "Orissa's progress in the final and Manipur's domination shows that Women's football in going in the right direction."

"Manipur is loaded with Senior Team players including someone like Bembem who is an inspiration to one and all. The Orissa side has done exceedingly well to reach the Final and in great fashion. Almost their entire squad represented Railways this time. They have done a wonderful job in training the underage players, many of whom also play for India U-19 national team.
"Now when these Players take the field against their Seniors, it will give them the best opportunity to prove their mettle and seal a berth in the National Team. It will be a great match to watch with so many mini-battles. I expect Orissa to come out all guns blazing."

Meanwhile, Orissa coach Shrandhanjali Samantaray informed that 17-18 players from the 20-member squad are playing the nationals for the first time.