Local tech scouting app helps uncover female soccer talent
Scouts simply need to input specific characteristics, like level of experience or position and the app generates results that meet those requirements.
BallTalent – a Soweto-based tech-enabled talent scouting app is shining a spotlight on talented female soccer players so they can be recognised by local and international scouts.
BallTalent is the brainchild of Simon Mokgotlhoa (30) and Lesego Ndlovu (29). The two self-taught innovators say their app was developed out of a passion for technology and concern for undiscovered local talent.
“Over the past couple of years, women’s soccer has grown phenomenally.
“As the sport continues to flourish, I am immensely proud of the work we’re doing to help young female players enter well-respected teams,” revealed Ndlovu.
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Explaining how BallTalent works, Mokgotlhoa says the app showcases crucial player data and match footage – a combination that positions BallTalent as the perfect tool for scouts. It gives users the opportunity to view the player they are interested in without the hassle of travelling to soccer matches.
“Unfortunately, matches in the lower league structures do not get enough television,” explained Mokgotlhoa. “The lack of exposure makes precise decision-making a challenge for scouts. The downside of this is that plenty of undiscovered talent goes unnoticed.”
According to the duo, for app users, finding a talented player is easy. Scouts simply need to input specific characteristics, like level of experience or position and the app generates results that meet those requirements.
Clubs can also use the app to monitor all their games to improve team performance while talented players can register directly with BallTalent so that evidence of their skills is available to scouts.
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Through the success of BallTalent, they recently placed several female players who have experience on the under-17 South African Women’s National Team on the international market including g the likes of Aliyaah Allie and Jessica Wade of JVW with Glasgow City (UK) and Emek Hefer (Israel) respectively. Katrina Maguire of Croseus was placed with Aris Limassol (Cyprus) and Ronnel Donnelly of Shooting Stars with University of Western Ohio (USA).
On home ground, BallTalent has assisted with transferring Essien Makwarimba of Jomo Cosmos to Mamelodi Sundowns and Ayesha Moosa of Soweto Fabulous to the University of Johannesburg.
“So far, 12 scouts, eight clubs and more than 600 individual soccer players have signed up to the app.
“Wile our focus right now is on soccer, the app has the capacity to be used for other sports.
“I am excited by the potential it has to revolutionise the relationship between local talent and scouts,” Ndlovu shared.
