Safaricom has brought GPS vests into the Chapa Dimba tournament to track and evaluate player performance, producing valuable data.
This technology made its debut at the fourth edition of Safaricom Chapa Dimba. During the Nyanza Region Chapa Dimba finals at Moi Stadium Kisumu, athletes wore Catapult One team vests to collect their data.
The Wearable GPS Vest powered with AI that all players are wearing today to capture and monitor players performance on the pitch #SafaricomChapaDimba pic.twitter.com/m5zQJFRlBk
— Brian Mbunde ™ (@Brianmbunde) September 30, 2023
Charles Gacheru, IMG Communications Director and the brain behind Catapult One stressed the need for progress in sports technology.
He stated that the aim is to spotlight local talent. He used Tusker FC as an example of a team that uses similar technology, explaining that when players know they are under surveillance, they become more self-aware.
“Safaricom is paving the way,” said Gacheru. He pointed out that the Harambee Starlets are on the verge of qualifying for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and could potentially qualify for the World Cup if they finish in the top four.
Why data in sports?
The technology allows players and coaches to analyze a variety of data such as total distance covered, top speed, number of sprints, sprint distance, power, load, intensity, and much more.
This globally recognized data is now being generated from the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament.
This innovation provides real-time insights into player performance and condition, taking the game to a whole new level. ⚽📷 #SafaricomChapaDimba #ChezaKamaWewe pic.twitter.com/aowjioqh4m
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) September 30, 2023
Safaricom has invested Ksh400 million in season four of the Chapa Dimba football tournament, which officially kicked off on 3rd June after a two-year hiatus and will run until January 14, 2024.
The tournament prize money has been doubled to Ksh 20 million for overall winners and over 150 scholarships to TVET institutions for the best players at County, Regional and National levels, and a 10-day trip to Spain for the all-star team.
