AmaZulu Hosts Groundbreaking High-Performance Symposium

On the morning of October 12th, AmaZulu Football Club held its first-ever High-Performance Symposium, welcoming over 35 grassroots football delegates eager to learn about elite-level football. The event covered a wide range of topics aimed at empowering community coaches with modern football knowledge.
The symposium began with Pilela Maposa, head of the club’s performance analysis department, who provided an insightful presentation on elite football performance analysis. This was followed by AmaZulu’s High Performance Manager, Joshua Smith, who led a detailed discussion on load monitoring in football. Smith, the main organizer of the event, highlighted the purpose of the symposium, stating, “We’ve received great questions—knowledgeable, insightful ones—from people eager to learn and grow. This is about giving back to community coaches and ensuring that modern football is accessible. As AmaZulu Football Club, we aim to contribute to football in South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal. This is the first of many symposiums to come.”
Smith also expressed his gratitude to the event sponsors, including Catapult, Hilton Garden Inn, Aquelle, Avis, Busamed, and the Hollywood Foundation.
Catapult Sports’ Senior Business Development Manager, Jondra Williams, commended AmaZulu’s initiative, noting, “It’s a great privilege to be part of the AmaZulu Symposium. They are the first PSL team in South Africa to host such an event. For us at Catapult, this is a massive opportunity. We’ve shared platforms that can make a significant impact, from grassroots to academy and semi-professional levels. These tools benefit everyone from coaches to physiotherapists and medical teams.”
The symposium continued with presentations from other club experts. Club Fitness Conditioning Coach, Zunaid Crowie, offered insights into football periodization, while Biokineticist Mkhuliseni Mkhize discussed injury prevention strategies. Dr. Tafadzwa Kasunzuma followed with a session on sports medicine in football.
The final presentation was delivered by Pedro Dias, AmaZulu’s Director of Football, who outlined his role in overseeing the club’s day-to-day operations.
Among the attendees were students from local tertiary institutions, who gained a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes operations of a professional football club. The symposium provided them with invaluable knowledge to take back and apply within their own football structures.
This successful pilot event marks the beginning of AmaZulu’s commitment alongside SAFA eThekwini to fostering the growth of football in South Africa through education and community involvement.
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