“The Gap is Huge” – How AmaZulu Is Bringing European-Level Sports Science To Durban
AmaZulu successfully hosted its second Performance Symposium at Durban’s Hilton Garden Inn on 28 March, which featured 70+ delegates and experts from VALD and STATSports.
The initiative aims to bridge the “education gap” between South African and European football.
Hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn in Durban on Saturday, 28 March, the symposium was made possible through the support of key partners including VALD, STATSports, Hi-Tech Therapy, aQuelle, and the Hollywood Foundation.
AmaZulu High Performance Manager, Joshua Smith, expressed his satisfaction with the growth and direction of the initiative:
“The second edition of the performance symposium—while the first one was more grassroots-based—has now opened up to more high-level practitioners, while still maintaining involvement from high schools and amateur clubs. We’re trying to create a holistic learning environment from amateur level through to the PSL and NFD, and ultimately empower clubs through education.”
Smith further emphasised the Club’s broader vision: “Our goal as AmaZulu is to be a leader in football education in the country. By hosting symposiums like this, we can drive high-level education across various sectors. In Europe, these conferences happen regularly, whereas in South Africa and across Africa, they are few and far between. We’ve identified that gap and, as AmaZulu, we are stepping forward to lead the charge.”
A wide range of topics were covered throughout the day, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of modern football performance.
Among the speakers were AmaZulu First Team Goalkeeper Coach and former Uganda international Postnett Omony, global methodology expert and former Mamelodi Sundowns Head of Development Shawn Bishop, performance psychologist Dr Kirsten Van Heerden, South African Olympic Team Head of Medical Dr Kevin Subban, and performance physiotherapist Nic Parreira, among others.
One of the symposium’s main sponsors, VALD Performance, also played a central role in highlighting the growing importance of data-driven approaches in enhancing player performance and strengthening injury prevention protocols.
Michael Brooks, VALD’s Client Success Manager for Africa and the Middle East, shared valuable insights into the evolving role of data in sport: “We’ve seen a massive uptake in understanding what data is and how it should be interpreted—from player readiness to return-to-play protocols throughout rehabilitation. Our systems aim to replace subjective assessments with objective measures, giving practitioners confidence in their decisions and ensuring the best outcomes for athletes and clubs alike.”
He added: “We must never stop searching for answers. There’s a tendency to become complacent in what we know and forget about what we don’t. At VALD, we are constantly pushing to break those barriers and promote continuous learning rather than complacency.”
The event was expertly steered by Master of Ceremonies, former AmaZulu midfielder and popular football content creator Michael Morton.
The symposium also saw strong attendance from active PSL practitioners, further underlining its growing relevance and impact within the football fraternity.
