Clubs endorse digital era
PREMIER Soccer League clubs have given their thumbs up to the professional collection of data for both their players and teams, with the elite sides indicating they are ready to take on board the use of statistics for the 2024 season.
A few of the local top-flight clubs have been relying on data collated by team analysts, who work hand-in-glove with the coaches to assess team performances only.
Following revelations that local sides can now sign up for individual player-statistical analysis and overall team assessment that will be collated on a match-by-match basis by experts, a number of the Premiership clubs are relishing, en-rolling in the system.
PSL club chairmen, who also form the league’s board of governors, told Zimpapers Sports that they were eager to embrace the technology, which would also help them market their players, especially in the international arena. Harare giants Dynamos, set to mark their return to the Confederation of African Football inter-club competitions after a decade’s absence indicated that would need the data to ensure they are in line with contemporary trends. Dynamos chairman Moses Maunganidze, whose club has also been importing players, said they needed professionally collated analytics to help guide them on who best to recruit.
“It’s the way to go and this should have come a long time ago,’’ Maunganidze said.
“We have to embrace biomechanics in sport so that at the click of a button any stakeholder can access and analyse data about any player and be able to process it into information that will assist them make the right decisions.
Apart from bringing in players from Ghana and Namibia, Dynamos, also know the benefits and importance of marketing and selling their players to international clubs.
“For Dynamos, as we make a return into
Africa, this will indeed be a marketing pedestal for our players and we will need to embrace it,’’ Maunganidze said.
Premiership kings Ngezi Platinum Stars, through their chairman Silence Gavi, indicated their eagerness to use digital analysis to get an insight into their team’s and the players’ performance. Gavi said they were keen to understand the modalities of the system and added that:
“Overall, we believe in the use of technology and data to guide and improve player and team performance’’.
His Manica Diamonds counterpart Masimba Chihowa also weighed in with the Gem Boys’ stance.
“This is necessary because teams should be scientific and statistics provides a fair analysis of individual performances,’’ said Chihowa.
“There should be a match-by-match analysis.
“For marketing purposes of the players, the analysis is needed by international agents.
“As Manica Diamonds we will consider and use it for the players that we will also look to get’’. After making their Premiership debuts last season and avoiding the chop back into Division One, GreenFuel and Simba Bhora believe they have learnt their lessons well and want statistical data to assist them in their panned long hauls in the top flight.
GreenFuel chairman Fredson Moyo reckons the data will empower Premiership sides.
“Physical actions of football kicking, heading, running, walking, etc. are evidence of basic physical science. “Globally the sport has advanced so much but unfortunately in Zimbabwe, we are ages behind.
“The coming in of smrtstats will help a lot in the marketing of players as players’ data is collected, analysed, and documented scientifically. “Smrtstats will bring accuracy and also visibility across stakeholders in the football industry,’’ Moyo said.
“Big decisions are made based on information. How can we market local talent without sufficient information or pro-files? It’s very difficult. Vafana vanoperera muBotswana ne Malawi but now with Smartstats, we can profile vapfana vedu,’’ he said.
Simba Bhora’s Isiah Mupfurutsa was charmed at the prospects of using scientific analysis for his team and their players’ showings. Mupfurutsa said the use of digitally collated analysis provided coaches and their clubs with a fair assessment of performance.
“We are looking to have a good start to the season and these smrtstats are a modern trend and the modern trend is all about data and stats which means all clubs now depend on that technology.
“But for the players as individuals and the clubs, this will make it easier for coaches and their analysts to use the stats and interpret performances.
“Our coaches will know where exactly to attend to and to understand which areas players will need help.
“Resources permitting, all clubs are supposed to invest in this, we should invest in training our personnel to be able to analyse the information and use it to effect, said Mupfurutsa. “Suppose all clubs came on board and had all that information, it would be easier for clubs to buy and sell players, and at times there would be no need to go and watch one match and try to conclude how good a player is.
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