Talent Development and Participation in Female Football in Rwanda
Influencing Factors and Challenges
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to assess the factors determining talent development and participation in football in Rwanda. A mixed methods approach was used to gather quantitative and qualitative data from participants (n = 200), who were football players, administrators and coaches from school teams and local clubs drawn from different leagues in Rwanda. Data collection instruments were developed around five indicators, namely, competition, psychological, enjoyment, physical appearance, and mastery factors, as determinants of talent development among female football players. The raw data were processed and analyzed statistically with the help of IBM SPSS V.26. One-way ANOVA was deemed crucial for analyzing quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Competition, psychological, and enjoyment factors exhibited statistically significant positive correlations, ranging from strong, moderate, and weak, with sociodemographic factors. Moreover, physical appearance and mastery factors demonstrated significant moderate negative correlations and statistically significant positive weak correlations. The findings indicate that identified factors play a significant role in determining talent development and participation in football among female players in Rwanda. Future studies should include comprehensive methodologies to enhance validity and reliability; they should also explore psychological aspects more deeply and develop targeted interventions that investigate how financial constraints prevent full female participation in Rwandan football.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2025 KABANYANA Scovia, Dr. TOYIN JAIYEOBA, Dr Franz Atare (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Kabanyana Scovia, Pan African University, Life and Earth Sciences Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
KABANYANA Scovia is a dedicated educator in Physical and Health Education with a strong academic background in Strength and Conditioning. She earned her postgraduate qualification in Strength and Conditioning from Leipzig University of Sports in Leipzig, Germany. Prior to this, she completed her university studies at the University of Rwanda – College of Education in the academic year 2016-2017. Her academic journey began at Group Scolaire Gahini, where she pursued secondary education in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry from 2007 to 2012.
With a passion for sports science and athlete development, Scovia is committed to fostering talent in physical education and sports training. She integrates her expertise in conditioning with evidence-based teaching methods to promote fitness, performance, and well-being among learners. Through her work, she continues to contribute to the advancement of sports education and talent development in Rwanda and beyond.
Dr. Toyin Jaiyeoba, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Dr Oluwatoyin Jaiyeoba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a researcher in the field of Sports Psychology.
Dr. Franz Atare , University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Associate Professor of Recreation and Sport Management at the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, Nigeria and a visiting Academic at Pan African University, Life and Earth Science Institute. He had a Bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education from Delta State University, Abraka and a Master's and PhD from the University of Ibadan. He served as Director of Sport and participated in National Sports policy development. He is a member of so many Professional and Technical sports associations and a member Board of Trustee Cycling Federation of Nigeria and the African Urban Cycling Organization. He has published over 50 articles in National and International Journals, with 58 cited in Google Scholar.
Martindale, R. J., Collins, D., & Daubney, J. (2005). Talent development: A guide for practice and research within sport. Quest, 57(4), 353-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2005.10491862 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2005.10491862
Bevan, N., Drummond, C., Abery, L., Elliott, S., Pennesi, J.-L., Prichard, I., . . . Drummond, M. (2021). More opportunities, same challenges: adolescent girls in sports that are traditionally constructed as masculine. Sport, education and society, 26(6), 592-605. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2020.1768525 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2020.1768525
Bozděch, M., Agricola, A., & Zháněl, J. (2023). The Relative Age Effect at Different Age Periods in Soccer: A Meta-Analysis. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 130(6), 2632-2662. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125231210585 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125231210585
Cerezo, J. L. (1991). Human nature as social order: A hundred years of psychometrics. Journal of Social and biological Structures, 14(4), 409-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-1750(91)90014-H DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-1750(91)90014-H
Coutinho, P., Ribeiro, J., da Silva, S. M., Fonseca, A. M., & Mesquita, I. (2021). The influence of parents, coaches, and peers in the long-term development of highly skilled and less skilled volleyball players. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 667542. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.667542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.667542
Cunningham, I., Mergler, J., & Wattie, N. (2022). Training and development in sport officials: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(4), 654-671. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14128
Devine, C. (2018). Sex, sport and money: Voice, choice and distributive justice in England, Scotland and Wales. Sport, education and society, 23(9), 824-839. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2016.1275542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2016.1275542
Ford, P., De Ste Croix, M., Lloyd, R., Meyers, R., Moosavi, M., Oliver, J., . . . Williams, C. (2011). The long-term athlete development model: Physiological evidence and application. Journal of sports sciences, 29(4), 389-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.536849 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.536849
Gano-Overway, L. A., & Harrison, G. (2024). Meeting Basic Psychological Needs: One Coach’s Application of Self-Determination Theory in Practice. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2024.2396303 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2024.2396303
Girginov, V. (2023). The numbers game: quantifying good governance in sport. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(6), 1889-1905. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2078851 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2078851
Gu, S., Li, Y., Jiang, Y., Huang, J., & Wang, F. (2022). Mindfulness training improves sport performance by inhibiting uncertainty induced emotional arousal and anger. J. Orthop. Sports Med, 4, 296-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2078851 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26502/josm.511500066
Jiang, X., Guo, J., & Chen, Z. (2024). Exploring an athletic talent development environment in China: A case study of a sport-friendly high school. Psychology of sport and exercise, 74, 102696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102696 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102696
Kaliannan, M., Darmalinggam, D., Dorasamy, M., & Abraham, M. (2023). Inclusive talent development as a key talent management approach: A systematic literature review. Human Resource Management Review, 33(1), 100926.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100926 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100926
Kelly, A. L., Williams, C. A., Jackson, D. T., Turnnidge, J., Reeves, M. J., Dugdale, J. H., & Wilson, M. R. (2024). Exploring the role of socioeconomic status and psychological characteristics on talent development in an English soccer academy. Science and Medicine in Football, 8(3), 251-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2023.2213191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2023.2213191
Kennedy, P., & Kennedy, D. (2012). Football supporters and the commercialization of football: Comparative responses across Europe. Soccer & Society, 13(3), 327-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2012.655503 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2012.655503
Kovács, K. E., & Szakál, Z. (2024). Factors influencing sport persistence still represent a knowledge gap–the experience of a systematic review. BMC psychology, 12(1), 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02098-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02098-6
Kuknor, S., & Kumar, V. R. (2024). Impact of training and development interventions for diversity & inclusion: proposing an organizational schema. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, 38(1), 16-19.
https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-11-2022-0233 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-11-2022-0233
Ljungmann, C. K., Christensen, J. H., Johnsen, H. R., Klinker, C. D., & Pawlowski, C. S. (2024). Perceived barriers to sports participation among adolescent girls from low socioeconomic status neighborhoods. Sport in Society, 27(7), 1037-1056.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2023.2286013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2023.2286013
Mujika, I., Halson, S., Burke, L. M., Balagué, G., & Farrow, D. (2018). An integrated, multifactorial approach to periodization for optimal performance in individual and team sports. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 13(5), 538-561.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0093 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0093
Peng, B., Ng, J. Y., & Ha, A. S. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20(1), 23
. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01411-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01411-7
Podlog, L., Banham, S. M., Wadey, R., & Hannon, J. C. (2015). Psychological readiness to return to competitive sport following injury: a qualitative study. The sport psychologist, 29(1), 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2014-0063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2014-0063
Porter, M. E. (2008). On competition: Harvard Business Press.
Rico-Gonzalez, M., Pino-Ortega, J., Praca, G. M., & Clemente, F. M. (2022). Practical applications for designing soccer’training tasks from multivariate data analysis: a systematic review emphasizing tactical training. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129(3), 892-931.
https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211073404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211073404
Ronkainen, N., Aggerholm, K., Allen-Collinson, J., & Ryba, T. V. (2023). Beyond life-skills: talented athletes, existential learning and (Un) learning the life of an athlete. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health, 15(1), 35-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2022.2037694 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2022.2037694
Sarmento, H., Anguera, M. T., Pereira, A., & Araújo, D. (2018). Talent identification and development in male football: A systematic review. Sports Medicine, 48, 907-931.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0851-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0851-7
Smoll, F. L., Cumming, S. P., & Smith, R. E. (2011). Enhancing coach-parent relationships in youth sports: Increasing harmony and minimizing hassle. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6(1), 13-26. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.6.1.13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.6.1.13
Taylor, M., & O'Sullivan, N. (2009). How should national governing bodies of sport be governed in the UK? An exploratory study of board structure. Corporate governance: an international review, 17(6), 681-693. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2009.00767.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2009.00767.x
Varmus, M., Kubina, M., Adámik, R., Varmus, M., Kubina, M., & Adámik, R. (2021). Sport and Sport Environment. Strategic Sport Management: Sustainability of Sports Clubs, 35-86.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66733-7_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66733-7_3
Vaughan, J., Mallett, C. J., Potrac, P., Woods, C., O'Sullivan, M., & Davids, K. (2022). Social and cultural constraints on football player development in Stockholm: influencing skill, learning, and wellbeing. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 832111.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.832111 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.832111
Walker, I. J., Nordin‐Bates, S. M., & Redding, E. (2010). Talent identification and development in dance: A review of the literature. Research in Dance Education, 11(3), 167-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2010.527325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2010.527325
Wang, Y., Wu, C.-H., & Chen, L. H. (2023). A longitudinal investigation of the role of perceived autonomy support from coaches in reducing athletes’ experiential avoidance: The mediating role of subjective vitality. Psychology of sport and exercise, 64, 102304.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102304 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102304
Zeng, X., & He, W. (2024). Exploring adolescent participation in football: a gender-differentiated structural equation model based on the theory of planned behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1387420. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1387420 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1387420
Article Sidebar
