25 October 2025, 06:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 25 October 2025, 06:44 PM by rashmirekha.)
ODM Global School's U-13 and U-15 football teams won the Bundesliga Dream India National Championship 2025 held in Mumbai, becoming the first teams from Odisha to earn a fully sponsored training tour with Germany's top football league. The achievement has redefined schools in Bhubaneswar on the national sports map.
Before their departure to Germany, the young champions were felicitated at their school campus. Hon'ble Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj and MLA Shri Babu Singh attended the ceremony, acknowledging the significance of this victory for sports development in the state. The event drew parents, teachers, and local sports enthusiasts who came to celebrate this unprecedented achievement.
The national championship saw participation from football academies and schools across India. ODM's teams competed in multiple rounds, defeating opponents with larger budgets and more established programs. The final matches tested not just their technical abilities but their mental strength under pressure.
"These boys have trained for months," said one of the coaches present at the felicitation. "Early morning practice sessions, weekend tournaments, dietary discipline—they've given up a lot of what children their age usually enjoy."
Many players in both teams come from families where parents work as daily wage labourers, small shopkeepers, or in other modest professions. The ODM Sports Scholarship Program identified these children during talent-scouting drives conducted across different parts of Odisha. Some were playing barefoot on muddy grounds when they were first spotted.
Unlike conventional school sports programs in Bhubaneswar, ODM's scholarship initiative covers everything—training equipment, nutritious meals, physiotherapy when needed, and even academic tutoring — to ensure sports don't compromise education. The program operates on a simple principle: talent shouldn't be wasted because of poverty.
The selection for Germany came directly from Bundesliga scouts who were present during the national championship. They watched how ODM's players moved, communicated on the field, and handled high-pressure situations. The offer for a fully sponsored tour isn't given lightly—it's reserved for teams that show genuine potential for development.
Odisha has produced national and international athletes in hockey, athletics, and weightlifting. Football has lagged behind despite the sport's popularity among children. This Bundesliga selection changes that narrative. It shows that schools in Bhubaneswar can build competitive football programs if there's genuine commitment.
The German training tour will last several weeks. Players will train under Bundesliga-certified coaches, experience match conditions at professional youth academies, and understand what a career in professional football actually requires. They'll see how European clubs develop young talent from the grassroots level.
For context, no school from Odisha has previously received this opportunity. A few individual players have gone abroad for trials or short camps, but an entire team selection with full sponsorship is new territory.
Other schools in Bhubaneswar have noticed. Several institutions have approached ODM to understand their training methodology and scholarship model. There's talk of inter-school football leagues being organised more professionally, with better facilities and qualified referees.
Parents who earlier discouraged their children from focusing on sports are reconsidering. "If these boys can go to Germany through football, maybe there's a real future in it," one parent said outside the school after the felicitation.
The immediate effect is visible in ODM's sports complex. Younger students who watched the ceremony are now showing up for football trials. The U-11 batch has doubled in size since the Mumbai victory. Coaches are conducting extra sessions to handle the increased interest.
The team leaves for Germany between October 21-27. The exact departure date depends on visa processing and final coordination with Bundesliga officials. Parents have been briefed about the tour schedule, accommodation arrangements, and supervision protocols.
Schools in Bhubaneswar rarely get international exposure opportunities for their students, especially in sports. ODM's achievements prove it's possible when there's proper infrastructure, qualified coaching staff, and financial support for deserving students, regardless of their economic status.
These 13 and 15-year-olds might not all become professional footballers. But they've already learned discipline, teamwork, and that hard work actually pays off. That's perhaps more valuable than any trophy.
Before their departure to Germany, the young champions were felicitated at their school campus. Hon'ble Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj and MLA Shri Babu Singh attended the ceremony, acknowledging the significance of this victory for sports development in the state. The event drew parents, teachers, and local sports enthusiasts who came to celebrate this unprecedented achievement.
The national championship saw participation from football academies and schools across India. ODM's teams competed in multiple rounds, defeating opponents with larger budgets and more established programs. The final matches tested not just their technical abilities but their mental strength under pressure.
"These boys have trained for months," said one of the coaches present at the felicitation. "Early morning practice sessions, weekend tournaments, dietary discipline—they've given up a lot of what children their age usually enjoy."
Many players in both teams come from families where parents work as daily wage labourers, small shopkeepers, or in other modest professions. The ODM Sports Scholarship Program identified these children during talent-scouting drives conducted across different parts of Odisha. Some were playing barefoot on muddy grounds when they were first spotted.
Unlike conventional school sports programs in Bhubaneswar, ODM's scholarship initiative covers everything—training equipment, nutritious meals, physiotherapy when needed, and even academic tutoring — to ensure sports don't compromise education. The program operates on a simple principle: talent shouldn't be wasted because of poverty.
The selection for Germany came directly from Bundesliga scouts who were present during the national championship. They watched how ODM's players moved, communicated on the field, and handled high-pressure situations. The offer for a fully sponsored tour isn't given lightly—it's reserved for teams that show genuine potential for development.
Odisha has produced national and international athletes in hockey, athletics, and weightlifting. Football has lagged behind despite the sport's popularity among children. This Bundesliga selection changes that narrative. It shows that schools in Bhubaneswar can build competitive football programs if there's genuine commitment.
The German training tour will last several weeks. Players will train under Bundesliga-certified coaches, experience match conditions at professional youth academies, and understand what a career in professional football actually requires. They'll see how European clubs develop young talent from the grassroots level.
For context, no school from Odisha has previously received this opportunity. A few individual players have gone abroad for trials or short camps, but an entire team selection with full sponsorship is new territory.
Other schools in Bhubaneswar have noticed. Several institutions have approached ODM to understand their training methodology and scholarship model. There's talk of inter-school football leagues being organised more professionally, with better facilities and qualified referees.
Parents who earlier discouraged their children from focusing on sports are reconsidering. "If these boys can go to Germany through football, maybe there's a real future in it," one parent said outside the school after the felicitation.
The immediate effect is visible in ODM's sports complex. Younger students who watched the ceremony are now showing up for football trials. The U-11 batch has doubled in size since the Mumbai victory. Coaches are conducting extra sessions to handle the increased interest.
The team leaves for Germany between October 21-27. The exact departure date depends on visa processing and final coordination with Bundesliga officials. Parents have been briefed about the tour schedule, accommodation arrangements, and supervision protocols.
Schools in Bhubaneswar rarely get international exposure opportunities for their students, especially in sports. ODM's achievements prove it's possible when there's proper infrastructure, qualified coaching staff, and financial support for deserving students, regardless of their economic status.
These 13 and 15-year-olds might not all become professional footballers. But they've already learned discipline, teamwork, and that hard work actually pays off. That's perhaps more valuable than any trophy.