In what could be a first in the country’s first division football league, Blackrock Football will soon embark on global positioning system (GPS) technology meant to analyse and monitor player performance through a specialised tracking equipment.
The Hwange based club has placed an order for an undisclosed number these data performance collection devices. The consignment is expected to be delivered before the end of the soccer season.
Speaking to The Sports Hub in a recent interview, Shiringinyai Munotengwa the team’s technical director said there is need to have a real-time monitoring programme of players to enhance their competitiveness.
“There is need for the team to adapt to modern technology in terms of monitoring player performance as we seek to continue to be among the league’s title contenders,’’ said Munotengwa in an interview following the team’s recent back to back nill all draw with Nkayi United, the current Southern Region pacesetters.
He added that they have also identified a sports consultant to assist the team management on how to implement and execute GPS technology.
GPS tracking technology enables a coach to gather analytical data on player movement patterns, positioning as well as team formation during training or competitive match.
The devices are usually worn on players’ chest like a bra or put on cleats (pointed part on bottom of an athletic shoe) and are used for gathering data meant to judge intensity of play/training as well as workload analysation.
Live data is provided for each individual player, location, speed, movement patterns which then allow coaches to make instant and on spot adjustments.
- In Full: Fifteenth post-cabinet press briefing, June 07, 2022
- Health talk: Be wary of measles, its a deadly disease
- Media challenged to expose all forms of phobias
- Health talk: Let us remain vigilant about monkey pox
Keep Reading
Blackrock, which is making its maiden appearance in division league has former national team playmaker and Highlanders’ son Mthulisi Maphosa as its head coach.
He also played for FC Platinum and TP Mazembe a team based in the Democratic Republic of Congo among others.
The club whose average age of players is 18 years has recently established a youth academy comprising of Under 9; 12, 14 and Under 16 junior teams. The players are mainly drawn from Sinderella high density suburb where the team’s home ground is also situated.
The youth academy is under the tutelage of Prudence Mpofu, a female coach who also scouts for talent from local surrounding educational institutions.
This junior development programme has also assisted local schools’ participation in tournaments such as National Association Primary Heads and National Association of Secondary Heads held from district up to national level.
The football team recently adopted Sinderella Queens a netball outfit that later rechristened to Blackrock Queens and is now affiliated to local netball league.
Plans are also at an advanced stage a lady’s soccer team as part gender policy enhancement in terms of sport development and girl child empowerment.
