All posts tagged: Nita Football Academy

East Bengal flawless as title race takes shape

East Bengal flawless as title race takes shape

Published by Webster

Phase 1 of the 2025–26 Indian Women’s League didn’t just end with a table; it ended with a statement. As the league pauses for the national team camp ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, East Bengal FC walk into the break flawless and unbothered. Six matches, six wins, 18 points, 25 goals scored, and just one conceded. It’s not dominance by narrow margins; it’s control, authority, and distance from the rest of the field. Behind them, Sethu FC have quietly pieced together the most consistent chase, riding a five-match unbeaten run to sit second on 16 points from seven games. Nita Football Academy (13 points) remain dangerous and unpredictable, while Sreebhumi FC (9 points from six) hovers in that uncomfortable space between contention and collapse. At the other end, the contrast is stark. SESA FA and Kickstart FC Karnataka head into Phase 2 in the relegation zone, separated from safety by fine margins but undone so far by defensive fragility and missed moments. Phase 1 gave us 93 goals, late winners, hat-tricks, and scorelines …

IWL 2025–26 begins with Sethu FC’s comeback win over Kickstart FC

IWL 2025–26 begins with Sethu FC’s comeback win over Kickstart FC

Published by Webster

The 2025–26 Indian Women’s League season kicked off on Saturday with three fixtures across Kolkata and Kalyani, producing a mix of comeback victories, shared points, and an emphatic debut performance from a newly promoted side. Former champions Sethu FC opened their campaign with a 2–1 win over Kickstart FC at the AIFF National Centre of Excellence. Kickstart struck first in the 12th minute through Babysana Devi from the penalty spot after a scramble inside the box. Sethu responded quickly, with Kaviya Pakkirisamy restoring parity eight minutes later with a well-taken curling effort. The Madurai-based side took control after the break and secured the win in the 50th minute when Malavika P reacted fastest to a rebound from a corner. Despite late pressure from Kickstart, Sethu managed the closing stages effectively to claim all three points. At the Kalyani Stadium, three-time champions Gokulam Kerala FC were held to a 1–1 draw by Nita Football Academy. Gokulam dominated early chances but failed to capitalise, allowing Nita FA to take the lead just before half-time through Neha, who …

Paromita Sit dreams of Indian squad at FIFA Women’s World Cup

Paromita Sit dreams of Indian squad at FIFA Women’s World Cup

Published by Webster

When Nita Football Academy defended its Odisha Women’s League title last month, celebrations erupted. For the young women, the title defense was a moment of great pride. For Head Coach Paromita Sit, however, the victory was just a steppingstone towards building something lasting in Indian women’s football. As a former India international, Paromita knows what it takes to play at the highest level. And quite naturally, the news of the FIFA Women’s World Cup expanding to 48 teams from 2031 and the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament increasing to 16 nations from 2028 is a development that excites her. “We have raw talent, but we need structure,” she tells The Bridge. “If we focus on development now, the next decade could see Indian women’s football stepping up in ways we once thought were too far-fetched,” she reflects. Incidentally, these are ideologies that did not quite exist when she began playing. A football dream in a mining town Born in Jharia, a town shaped by coal mines and tough working conditions, Paromita spent her first ten years …

A bigger, more competitive season over the horizon

A bigger, more competitive season over the horizon

Published by Webster

The much-anticipated Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2024-25 is set to kick off on January 10, 2025, marking the start of another thrilling chapter in Indian women’s football. The league is expanding with eight teams this season after two teams were promoted from the inaugural IWL 2 season. Fans can expect a highly competitive tournament with 56 matches taking place across the country over the next three months. These fixtures will not only determine the national champion but also offer the victorious team a golden opportunity to represent India at the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League. Defending Champions Odisha FC: Can they keep the momentum going? Odisha FC Women made history last season by clinching their maiden IWL trophy, breaking Gokulam Kerala FC’s long-standing dominance. Under head coach Crispin Chettri, they finished the 2023-24 season as champions, marking an impressive start for the club, which was only founded in 2022. This season, however, the Kalinga Warriors are facing a new challenge, as several key players have moved on, making way for a younger, fresher squad. Despite …