Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective

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dc.contributor.advisorBroster, Philip
dc.contributor.advisorDove, Mary Ann
dc.contributor.authorNobre, Pedro Lacerda
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-17T10:54:49Z
dc.date.available2025-11-17T10:54:49Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-11-17T10:52:10Z
dc.description.abstractThe growing complexity and competitiveness of professional sport have underscored the importance of Talent Identification and Development (TID) in football. This study examines the TID frameworks employed by South Africa's top professional male football clubs through the perspectives of coaches and key informants. This research addresses the lack of academic focus on TID practices in the Global South, highlighting the critical role of coaches in bridging theoretical frameworks and practical applications and realities. Using a qualitative, exploratory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 male professionals from seven Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs across four provinces, including head coaches, youth coaches, and key operational staff. Thematic analysis revealed six core themes and 18 sub-themes, illustrating the interconnected and multifactorial nature of TID. Player characteristics, recruitment processes, and the complementarity between Data-driven and Intuition-driven approaches to TID emerged as pivotal elements. A significant disparity was identified between youth and senior levels, with youth football hindered by insufficient investment, infrastructure, and structured competitions. Despite the positive contribution of the under twenty-three years old national league, the Diski League, these systemic challenges limit the development of young players in South Africa. The study offers an integrated and holistic perspective on TID, evidence of presence of sophisticated professional practices, and advocates for an ecological approach to TID. It proposes three policy recommendations: improving coach development professionalization; regional youth intensive training camps for talented players; and a structured youth competition framework. These measures aim to unlock South Africa's untapped football potential, paving the way for greater success at both national and international levels.
dc.identifier.apacitationNobre, P. L. (2025). <i>Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Management Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationNobre, Pedro Lacerda. <i>"Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Management Studies, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNobre, P.L. 2025. Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Management Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Nobre, Pedro Lacerda AB - The growing complexity and competitiveness of professional sport have underscored the importance of Talent Identification and Development (TID) in football. This study examines the TID frameworks employed by South Africa's top professional male football clubs through the perspectives of coaches and key informants. This research addresses the lack of academic focus on TID practices in the Global South, highlighting the critical role of coaches in bridging theoretical frameworks and practical applications and realities. Using a qualitative, exploratory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 male professionals from seven Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs across four provinces, including head coaches, youth coaches, and key operational staff. Thematic analysis revealed six core themes and 18 sub-themes, illustrating the interconnected and multifactorial nature of TID. Player characteristics, recruitment processes, and the complementarity between Data-driven and Intuition-driven approaches to TID emerged as pivotal elements. A significant disparity was identified between youth and senior levels, with youth football hindered by insufficient investment, infrastructure, and structured competitions. Despite the positive contribution of the under twenty-three years old national league, the Diski League, these systemic challenges limit the development of young players in South Africa. The study offers an integrated and holistic perspective on TID, evidence of presence of sophisticated professional practices, and advocates for an ecological approach to TID. It proposes three policy recommendations: improving coach development professionalization; regional youth intensive training camps for talented players; and a structured youth competition framework. These measures aim to unlock South Africa's untapped football potential, paving the way for greater success at both national and international levels. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - South African football KW - Coaches' decision-making KW - Data-driven TID KW - Intuition- driven TID KW - Global South LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective TI - Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationNobre PL. Talent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Management Studies, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42231en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Management Studies
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectSouth African football
dc.subjectCoaches' decision-making
dc.subjectData-driven TID
dc.subjectIntuition- driven TID
dc.subjectGlobal South
dc.titleTalent identification and development in South African professional football – a coach perspective
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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