SAFA to strengthen analysis and sports science - Ntseki

Speaking at the second edition of the SM Sports performance analysis and technical scouting symposium, held in Johannesburg, Ntseki says they are prioritising the specialist areas. 

This includes the head of analysis, scouting, goalkeeping and sports science. Ntseki says the demands of being regulars at the international level require that they close these gaps...

"With our technical division we have identified those individuals, and they obviously come with the necessary skills and expertise. 

"When you talk of conditioning, we've got a very serious problem because if ever we don't have a clear understanding of what conditioning is all about, how do you help the players to prepare for a training session, a match, or even a tournament?

"The development of men and women footballers is completely different, and also when you talk about youth players - it's important to understand the growth spurt because that's a very important aspect of development and we need to have an expert in that department."

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The former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs head coach is also a founding member of the Harmony Academy in the Free State, where players like Teboho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule started. He says everything starts with the good conditioning of a player. 

"I saw the conditioning of both rugby and soccer players during my time at Harmony Academy. I think that experience has brought this idea of having specialised people doing conditioning. 

"When it comes to scouting, we need to have a new and younger generation of scouts who will be more equipped with the information and use of technology."

At the FA level, one of the most important areas of scouting is to have an effective talent identification plan, and for Ntseki, this is where this SM Sports Symposium is coming in, and he says as SAFA, they fully support initiatives like these...

"We are here to talk about scouting and analysis, and when it comes to this topic, we need to have scouts who are trained and know exactly what to look out for. Scouting and coaching are two different departments and whatever we do, we need to make sure that women's football also becomes our priority."