Bhubaneswar: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rao Cricket Academy (RCA), Bhubaneswar, here for development of the university’s cricket team and infrastructure.
RCA is a cricket coaching center established in Bhubaneswar since 2023 aiming to provide international standard cricket infrastructure and world class coaching to players. The RCA coaching team comprises international level cricket coach (BCCI Level-2) and players who have played for India-A and in Indian Premier League (IPL).
RCA conducts residential and non-residential cricket coaching and its major facilities include international standard turf wickets, cemented wickets, indoor practice facility with full astro-turf wickets, physical training with physio support, bowling machines, hostels and special facility for girls.
As per the MoU, SOA will allow RCA to use its cricket stadium for a minimum period of three days a week while RCA will extend coaching to the SOA cricket team for three days a week.
RCA will also provide fifty per cent discount in non-resident cricket coaching fees to all SOA students, staff and faculty members at its facility at Patia, Bhubaneswar. It will also extend the facilities to one family member of any person holding SOA ID Card.
Besides, RCA will provide its technical guidance in improving SOA’s cricket establishment, organize SOA’s matches with professional teams and facilitate cricket tournaments for SOA as and when required. RCA will also guide the overall development of SOA sports.
Both SOA and RCA will also support and participate in each other’s events and programs and share their respective logos.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA and Mr. Shiv Shankar Rao, Managing Director of RCA in presence of Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) of SOA on Saturday. Mr. Sabyasachi Singh, cricketer Mr. Rahul Sukla and Mr. Jayant Rao, all partners in RCA, were also present.