PFJL going high tech to provide information for players, teams
Published:Tuesday | February 13, 2024 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Premier League (JPL) clubs and players will now have the opportunity to assess their performances, game by game, following a three-year partnership the Jamaica Professional Football Limited (PFJL) recently forged with online statistical company Wyscout.
Chief executive officer of the PFJL, Owen Hill, explained that Wyscout will use a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme to extract data for players and teams from JPL games uploaded on the platform.
He pointed out that players can now compare themselves to other players around the world and have a greater appreciation of their value and marketability while clubs will be able to use to the information to assess theirs and other teams’ preparation for games.
GROW AND IMPROVE
Hill believes that this new initiative will help the league to grow and improve.
“We (PFJL) have spent a chunk of cash, and no matter how much money we raise in sponsorship, it does not feel the way it is supposed to feel because we just do not have the right base. We have signed on to it (with Wyscout), and, essentially, it will allow for a multifaceted integrated approach to player and club development,” he said.
Hill said that from the player-development perspective, more data would be available to the players themselves, global agencies, scouts, coaches, technical directors, and that it is for them to use the information how they see fit.
“The players will get a chance to improve. Their favourability scores increases once the other ratios are in the right direction.
“So if your ratios are high, chances are you’ll get a good overall score, and generally, people will be looking at you, as, essentially, that is what they want. They want a player who exudes potential, and the metrics that they see depending on the position they play will determine if you are comparable to global standards,” Hill said.
All the JPL games for this season will be uploaded to the platform, and once it has been completed, players are tagged and their data will be disseminated through the Artificial Intelligence mechanism.
According to Hill, they are still in the process of uploading all games for this season, and he expects that to be completed by next week.
“Coming out of that you will find granular statistics on the player, the minutes they play, their ratios, whether it be pass accuracy ratio, goals per minute, duels won, things like distance covered, all the important data that will drive performance improvement,” Hill said.
He added that the platform would be equally beneficial for clubs as well and that they would be showing clubs how best to utilise the platform.
“Clubs can review upcoming games and scout teams because their information will be uploaded. They will be able to have that information to improve preparation for upcoming games.
“So the clubs will benefit from the games being uploaded, getting statistical information and video analysis of their own team and other teams.
“We will be training the clubs to use the platform as there may be gaps coming out of this process and they may not have the requisite personnel to use the information and break it down to ensure the club and coaches and players understand. It will mean nothing if you are not applying the data. The training will come directly from Wyscout, and in case there is any troubleshooting, they will be available for calls. So in the incubation process we will get a lot of hand holding as to how the platform is used and how to get more out of it.
“So for this project, we hope the information will be useful and that we will get the support of the federation and all other stakeholders as we believe this will enhance the overall product, and by extension, the industry we are seeking to build,” he said.