The technology is expected to add important statistics and data towards enhanced TV broadcast of the sport.
The UAE Pro League Committee has adopted the players’ performance tracking system known as “Tracking and Heatmap System” to be trialled throughout the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons in collaboration with football data collection and graphics technology company wTVision, BroadcastPro ME can reveal. The UAE Pro League Committee (PLC) is the United Arab Emirates’ professional association football league.
The system tracks players movements during matches to provide accurate data about their speed, positioning and heatmaps for movements and distance covered. It also provides data about percentage of play in the different areas of the pitch and other related statistics.
Speaking to BroadcastPro ME, Waleed Ebrahim Alhosani, Chief Executive Officer of Pro League Committee, commented: “At the PLC, we believe that football, just like life, evolves continuously. Innovation is an important part of our 2017-2020 strategy, so we are implementing new technologies that can support the growth of the Arabian Gulf League and its stakeholders. The Tracking & Heat Maps System will provide us with in-depth data about our matches, and that will benefit broadcasters, analysts and our media partners by adding a reliable source of information.”
The technology will be utilised in selected matches throughout this season starting with three matchweek two fixtures; Ajman vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Al Wasl vs Emirates and Al Nasr vs Al Wahda. The PLC had trialled the system in five matches including the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final and final matches.
Data collected by the system will be displayed at half-time and full-time. The technology is expected to add important statistics and data for TV broadcast and contribute to better quality of service to stakeholders including broadcasters, media, clubs and partners in addition to having positive impact on the technical analysis of matches.
Andre Chagas, Middle East Operations Coordinator for wTVision added: “Its our honour to take wTVision partnership with PLC to the next level and at the same time, allow AGLeague and AGCup football fans access to a strong set of innovative data. UAE fans will have a deeper understanding of the teams and players performances with accumulated distances, top speed, possession, accuracy passes and heat maps; all in real-time.”
