Former Bafana Bafana head of performance Joshua Smith and UKZN Sports Science lecturer and Golden Arrows DStv Diski Challenge fitness coach Mduduzi Rhini, will host the Football Science Conference next month.  

Rhini along with Smith, who is now head of performance with AmaZulu, said the conference will be a day event at the mecca of all stadiums in South Africa – Moses Mabhida Stadium on 20 May.  

Right now, they are putting things together because they feel the department of science and other factors needed to invigorate or help players especially in football have not been taken seriously especially in South Africa. There needs to be a change in mindset, where tried and tested scientific solutions are put into practice to help and assist coaches and players, both mentally and physically. 

“This is about football science and just bringing together science and football because there is a gap,” Rhini told Sportwire. 

“There is a disconnect between sports science, performance analysis, and coaching. We are just trying to create a platform where all people can come together and get to understand each other, finding common ground.”  

“It will be more explaining what the science is, what sports science football side is – things like data science, performance science, sports science, conditioning, injuries prevention, scouting, new coaching methods, tactical analysis. 

“It will be a platform where we will have a lot of discussions about all these topics because right now a lot of coaches don’t understand what sports science is or science is in football.”  

Smith, who also worked at Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United with Stuart Baxter and the Ugandan national team, said this project has been in the pipeline for some time.  

“It’s been a project that we were looking to launch in 2019/2020, but then Covid canceled everything and since then it’s been on the back burner,” Smith told Sportwire. 

“We revisited things this year and are looking to go ahead with it. Our focus in this is to drive forward science and excellence in South African football. To create a space where South African high-performance practitioners will learn and grow.”

For more information visit their website on https://fsconference.co.za/ or book yourself a ticket at https://www.quicket.co.za/events/254624-football-science-conference-24/#/