One of the most exciting additions to the ongoing phase of Safaricom Chapa Dimba is wearable technology for player tracking and management. Data driven football is a step towards revolutionizing the way the game is played, analyzed, and developed in the country and globally, and this technology will play a role in shaping not only Chapa Dimba but Kenya’s football identity. This will eventually make Kenyan football more competitive even outside our borders.
In recent years, wearables have gained popularity in sports, tapping on data to help athletes and coaches optimize performance. Safaricom Chapa Dimba took a bold step by incorporating them into the tournaments and setting the stage for further innovation in Kenyan football. The fact that Chapa Dimba is a grassroots tournament targeting young players means that technology will inform their prowess, and maybe even careers right from the start to whichever extents they want to take football in their lives. Players exposed to wearables at a young age are better informed and prepared for future careers in professional football.
Last weekend during the Nyanza finals, we had a chat with Charles Gacheru from IMG Kenya, the company mandated to overlay technology onto the Chapa Dimba tournaments. IMG is also mandated to analyze data and give insight into pinpointing and developing different football talent. There was a lot to learn from Mr. Gacheru, some of which we will look at in this article.
How does it wearable tech work?
Players are kitted with a vest and chip that they wear to measure their speed, how they are on and off the ball, total distance covered in a tournament and heartrate among other metrics. This gives invaluable insights not only for players to understand themselves but also to know how they compare with other teammates and fit into the team.
It also gives scouts, coaches, and other football developers tangible data on areas in which players can be nurtured further and how much they can push their boundaries. It is important to note that data is collected and utilized as per the laws of the land and in strict adherence to regulations of football governing bodies.
IMG is using Catapult 1, the world’s biggest GPS wearable company.
Mr. Gacheru shares that outside of Chapa Dimba, wearable tech will spark a larger sporting discussion by eliminating guesswork and providing true scenarios to be used in decision making by teams and tournament organizers.
Data from wearables can also be used by talent scouts to identify unique talent and exceptional potential to be nurtured, and this is exactly what Safaricom Chapa Dimba is about. To discover future football stars. With careful management and ethical considerations, wearables have the ability to shape the future of football in the country, fostering a new generation of data-driven athletes and coaches. Accurate data can even contribute to larger football discussions like customized football nutrition for players and it can be use by sports researchers to advance youth athletics development.
The integration of wearables in Safaricom Chapa Dimba represents a landmark development in Kenyan football. The data gathered from these devices not only enhances player performance but also has far-reaching implications for the development of the sport in Kenya. For instance, data collected over multiple seasons of Safaricom Chapa Dimba can be used to assess the long-term development of youth football in the country.
As far as mentorship goes, this data can facilitate mentoring relationships between young players and experienced football professionals.