16th July 2025, Nabarangapur: Under the auspices of the State Football Association, the Inter-District Sahani Cup Football Tournament is set to begin from the 16th at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Brahmapur. In this context, Prahallad Tripathy, Secretary of the Nabarangpur District Sports Association, has announced a 22-member district football team. The selected players include Chinta Nag, Swaraj Suna, Nathan Madangi, Babula Singh, Mantu Nag, Manoj Santa, Mithun Shanta, Jagabandhu Santa, Birendra Kumar, Mohan Guntha, Satyaban Pujari, Champu Pujari, Hardik Kachim, Sekh Jalaluddin, Isanath Harijan, Shambhunath Majhi, Deb Harijan, Sumant Majhi, Ramesh Hembram, Taj Bagh, and Aniket Mandar.
It is worth noting that before the team announcement, around 70 players from various corners of the district participated in the district-level selection process. The selection was conducted under the direct supervision of former Santosh Trophy player Prashant Behera. Senior member of the association, Shashank Shekhar Behera, also assisted in the selection process.
Former senior football player Firoz Hial has been appointed as the head coach of the team, while B. Yogesh Kumar will serve as assistant coach. Former football player Durjya Harijan will take charge as the team manager, according to information shared by Manoj Kumar Pattnayak, Joint Secretary of the District Sports Association.
M. Balakrishna Rao, Vice President of the District Sports Association, Ashok Nayak, Cricket Secretary, along with all members of the association have extended their best wishes to the team.
As per the schedule, the Nabarangpur district team will play matches against Bhubaneswar, Gajapati, and Ganjam teams on the 16th, 18th, and 20th respectively. Former senior sportspersons of the district have conveyed their good wishes and support to the team.