Maharashtra Oranje FC
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Maharashtra Oranje Football Club (formerly known as The Oranje Football Club) is an Indian professional football club based in Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It currently competes in the I-League 2, the third division of the Indian football league system and MFA Elite Division (the top division of Mumbai Football League).[1]
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| Full name | Maharashtra Oranje Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Oranje | |||
| Short name | MOFC | |||
| Founded | 2017; 7 years ago | |||
| Ground | Cooperage Ground Neville D'Souza Football Turf | |||
| Capacity | 5,000 | |||
| Owner | Satyajeet Saaini | |||
| League | I-League 3 MFA Elite Division | |||
| 2022–23 | MFA Elite Division, 4th of 16 | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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Based in Powai, Mumbai, the Oranje Football Academy derived its name from the Dutch philosophy of total football. Satyajeet Saaini, a mechanical engineer by qualification and a self-taught footballer, founded the Oranje Football Academy in January 2016 with more than 200 students. They have established coaching centers in Powai Vihar, Hiranandani, and Bhandup.[2]
In 2017, the Oranje Football Academy assembled a first-team named The Oranje FC. In 2018, they competed in the MFA 3rd Division for the first time. From 2019 onwards, they competed in three MFA Divisions (3rd, 2nd, and 1st) and multiple age groups. In 2020, they competed for the first time in the 2020–21 MFA Elite Division,[3] the premier division of the Mumbai Football League.[4] In the 2022–23 MFA Elite Division season, they finish 4th for the second season running.[5]
In September 2023, The Oranje FC took over Atlanta FC, which was one-half of Ambernath United Atlanta who qualified for 2023–24 I-League 2 in the previous season. As a result, Maharashtra Oranje FC competed in the 2023–24 I-League 2 season in place of Ambernath United Atlanta.[6][7] However, they were relegated to 2024–25 I-League 3 after accumulating just 15 points from 14 games.
They were further relegated from 2024–25 I-League 3 to 2024–25 Mumbai Premier League after failing to win any of their games.
- ^ Abdulla, Ayan (25 February 2023). "KSA drop points in the title race after drawing with The Oranje FC". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "The Inspiration". theoranjeacademy.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Halder, Suchit (29 October 2020). "The Oranje FC to host trials for MDFA Elite Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "The Oranje FC - Est. 2017". theoranjeacademy.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Shetty, Chittu (4 March 2023). "Atlanta FC drops points for the first time this season against spirited The Oranje FC". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "We are now Maharashtra Oranje FC". LinkedIn. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Shetty, Chittu (15 September 2023). "Maharashtra Oranje FC all set to shine in I-League 2nd Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.