collective, team-based endeavour), four
ingredients are necessary: first, a great
ethos and shared sense of purpose; second,
a ‘groove’ – a familiar and competent
system of play (no matter what it is); third,
some outstanding talent in key places;
and lastly, great leadership, on and off
the playing arena” – article titled Another
World Cup; a Familiar Four-factor Theory
We Can Apply - Sunday Nation, 22nd
July 2018.
Does this sound like something our
teams do often? Does it reflect even both
at our team and individual sport (where
the ‘larger’ team consists of the coach,
physiologist, team manager et al)?
Pre-tournament
favourites’
slowly
become post-tournament laughing stock.
92 MAL25/18 ISSUE
Individuals’ talent becomes anathema as
experienced teams fall on the way side.
Sports Science And Core
Competencies
Still with the football World Cup, a case
has been made as to why it may take
African teams longer to ever play or even
win the trophy. While we harp on the
strength and stamina of many a footballer
from Africa, beyond this is a mental and
physiological game which is played both
on and off the pitch.
In Kenyan rugby scene, we have heard
beliefs and whispers of how the game
cannot cross to ‘non-traditional players’
from communities without a certain
DNA or body stature. It is not for us to
determine that here. But if the game of
rugby in Kenya is to have a brighter future
and pool of talent, this cannot fly.
In today’s sporting world, while the natural
talent and flair may count for much, sports
science shows that investing in the right
nutrition, right training regime, right core
competencies and attitude can go a long
way in nurturing and growing nascent
talent.
Big Data And Sports
In 2014, when Germany won the World
Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, data
analysts and tech enthusiasts were harping
on how the use of big data did help it
secure the win. All fair and square. What
happened in 2018, albeit with even more