Woolwich student to collect data on top footballers at World Cup

A student from Woolwich has been employed by FIFA’s new Performance Analysis and Insights department, which aims to develop all levels of football through technology.

Mohammed Koroma, pictured, is one of seven Middlesex University students helping FIFA collect sophisticated data on top professional footballers at the 2022 World Cup which will be shared with all competing countries to help them improve their performance in future.

Mo completed an undergraduate degree last year and began a scholarship in September at Middlesex University under the guidance of senior lecturer Nimai Parmar.

His field is ‘Diversifying Sport Performance Analysis.’

He said: “My time at FIFA has been really enjoyable and I have learnt a lot of new stuff, especially in the work placement modules and where we have been able to use industry software.

“I was really proud to get the scholarship and it meant a lot because I knew that it would serve me well in the future. I am pretty sure it is not done everywhere so it was great to get and I am very grateful for it.”

The new FIFA department is being headed up by project leader Chris Loxston, and falls under former long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s role as FIFA’s chief of global football development.

Mr Loxston said the project and Mr Wenger’s aim is to combine football data analytics and technical expertise; and he described it as “an exciting, high-level project that we hope will set a standard within the industry moving forward.”

After the tournament in Qatar between November and December, key data will be given to all 32 nations in the hope that the smaller countries will be able to use the information to develop and close the gap.