Thesis (MSc (Physiotherapy))--University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2009. / Background information of the study: Physiotherapists play an important role in soccer teams. This role includes prevention of injury, treatment, education, and exercises. There is a dearth of information in some areas on the part of sports managers on the role of the physiotherapist in a team. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the knowledge of South African team managers on the role of the physiotherapist in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to establish team managers’ knowledge of the role of physiotherapists in the prevention and treatment of soccer injuries and evaluate their knowledge of the injuries managed by physiotherapists. Setting: PSL teams in South Africa Design: A descriptive survey design with a close-ended questionnaire was used in this study. Methodology: A quantitative research approach was employed in this study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data set and a rating scale was used to determine the knowledge of team managers. Results: Out of the 16 teams in the PLS, 13 team managers participated in the study and their average knowledge was 79%. Five (38%) had administrative qualifications while eight (62%) did not include their qualifications. All 13 respondents indicated that warm up, cool down and stretching reduces the risk of injuries. Eleven (77%) reported that prophylactic strapping reduces risk of injuries. All participants agreed that physiotherapeutic treatment includes massage, electric machines and ice. They also mentioned that exercises can be done by the physiotherapist, though only three (23%) believed that the physiotherapist could conduct physical training. Conclusion: This study revealed that team managers have good knowledge of the role of the physiotherapist in soccer, with regard to prevention and treatment of injuries in sport.

Thesis (MSc (Physiotherapy))--University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2009 / Aim: The aim of the study was to review the current management of soccer injuries sustained by professional players and how injury recurrence is prevented among Premier Soccer League (PSL) players in RSA. Study design: Cross sectional study, descriptive survey was followed, as it allowed the researcher to observe and describe the factors that had contributed towards recurrent injuries, as well as a qualitative approach with open ended questions where participant’s expressions encountered during the study, were analyzed. Population: The population of the study included all the medical team members in the PSL teams. PSL has 16 teams. The medical team comprised of any combination of the following members: the team doctor, physiotherapist, masseur, biokineticists, physical trainer, chiropractors and podiatrist. Not all teams have the same combination nor all disciplines mentioned. Sample: Purposive sampling method was used, as the researcher selected main participants with a specific purpose. Each of the PSL teams has 7 members from different disciplines therefore, all available members of the medical team of each PSL teams participated in the study. Data Analysis: Data was analyzed using SPPSS version 13.0.Data collected was loaded onto the statistica program for processing. Frequency tables for all variables are given to demonstrate the distribution of variables. Cross tabulation was also done to establish the relationship between the predictor variables and the response. The Test Statistic CHI-Squared (χ 2 ) was calculated and pvalue of less than 0.05 was determined for the significance. Frequency distribution tables, graphs, and charts were used to analyze the data collected. Content analysis was used for qualitative data. Results: Main findings of the study reflected that the ankle was the most commonly affected body part (69.2%) while the quadriceps and tendon achillies were both less commonly affected v (15.4%). The groin was found to incur most recurring injuries (69.2%). The results revealed that injured players are adequately managed by the medical team (61.5%). Attainment of pain free and full range of movement is the consideration for return to sport however less consideration was given to the persistent biomechanical abnormality. Conclusion: The study confirms that soccer injuries amongst Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams are managed by qualified professionals. The attainment of a free, full range of movement and adequate strength are used as criteria for return to sport and as a measure of preventing injury recurrence. Factors such as players missing out on rich rewards, recognition and regaining position in the team seem to have a great influence as well. Recommendation: The primary recommendation for the player who has had multiple recurrences is to address any underlying reversible risk factors such as poor strength and poor flexibility. A session needs to be held with soccer administrators to advocate the avoidance of factors contributing to recurrent injuries.

Thesis (M. Sc. (Physiotherapy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2011 / Aim of the study To investigate whether the Premier Soccer League Teams (PSL), in South Africa, have an ‘ideal’ medical team structure Objectives of the study Identification of medical professionals involved in the PSL and its leadership, the qualifications and experience of the medical professionals in PSL teams and whether the specialties of the medical professionals were clearly defined in order to avoid conflict within the team. Determination of the protocol that was followed when a player was injured and subsequent management and the influence on a player’s rehabilitation and return to activity. Setting The Premier Soccer League offices were contacted in order to conduct the research. Design The research design for this study was a descriptive survey. Methodology A purposeful sample of team managers and head coaches was chosen from 12 PSL teams. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect the data. A questionnaire was faxed to each participant and two follow-ups were made on the questionnaires that were not returned. Results The response rate was 54%. The composition of the medical teams comprised mainly of physiotherapists (85%) followed by sports physicians (77%), massage therapists (62%), dieticians (31%), sports psychologists (15%) and no podiatrist. Eight out of 13 participants reported having a sports physician as the head of the medical team while 4 participants reported the team leader to be a physiotherapist. Four out of 13 participants reported that their medical professionals were not all qualified and experienced in sport. The specialties of the medical professionals were clearly defined and each team had its own protocol for when a player was injured. The medical team had a positive influence on the management of injuries. Conclusion The PSL teams do not have an ‘ideal’ medical team structure. Keywords PSL, Medical team, structure, soccer

Organizations are seen as custodians of portfolio of projects and are increasingly delivering their businesses through multiple complex programs. To be successful in delivering their businesses, these organizations are required to build a project management capability within their structures. Projects today have become far more than solving of technical problems; they have become more of venues for mastering business and change. Project maturity is used as an indication of or a measurement of the organisation’s ability to use projects for different purposes. An organisational Project Management Maturity Assessment is an effective method for establishing a baseline and provides an impetus for organisational change. Project Management Maturity Models are regarded as effective tools for benchmarking and implementing improvements in organisational performance. In this Dissertation, a study in applying project management maturity model to review, assess, and analyze the degree of organizational project management maturity of one of the Professional Soccer clubs participating in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa is presented. The project management practices and capabilities of the PSL Soccer clubs are reflected. The purpose of this paper is to not only demonstrate the methodology and results of the assessment, but to also report on the outcome of the study and propose the necessary recommendations for improvement. The research was strictly focused on those Professional Soccer clubs which are participating in the South African PSL. For confidentiality purposes, the club in this dissertation is referred to as “The Club”. There has been no similar study that has been carried out in this field before. Therefore, this study aims to break new grounds in conducting a research of this kind in this specific sports field. The main research question posed in this study is: What is the level of organizational project management maturity of the South African PSL Soccer clubs? This research question is supported by five other sub-questions which are answered in a research chapter dealing with the synthesis and analysis of the research results. These research questions were motivated by the following reasons: Organizations are changing drastically in their fundamental ways of conducting business. This change is happening within a short period of time and at an accelerated pace. This change occurs both structurally, operationally, and culturally in response to factors such as globalization, new technology, competition, and the world economy that is various challenges in the marketplace. Organizations are also under pressure to improve on their performance in order to maintain high levels of competitiveness and continue to be successful in the global marketplace and therefore, consistent improvement on their projects or program delivery is required in order to attain competitive advantage and sustained growth. Therefore, considering the reasons presented above, the researcher found it necessary to evaluate the current levels of project management maturity in the PSL Soccer clubs. In order to achieve the study objectives two models were used as tools to assess the degree of The Club’s project management maturity and further highlighted a recommended path for improvement. Firstly, Organisational Project Management Maturity (OPM3) model, which is a standard developed under the stewardship of Project Management Institute (PMI), was used as the main model. Secondly, the Integrated Management Systems Incorporated’s (IMSI) project management assessment model was also used as a supporting model.

There has been a significant amount of growth in soccer game attendance and media coverage since the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa was established in 1996. However, match attendance started to decline from the 2013 season. PSL teams need to do something to get the fans back into the stadiums. A stable fan base is of vital importance for a team’s competitive advantage since the growing commercialisation of sport. The South African PSL is no exception and teams need to comprehend the importance of loyal fans. Team identification is linked to higher game attendance and more fans that are loyal and, therefore, it is relevant to the PSL teams. Higher game attendance will increase the teams’ revenues through ticket sales. Highly identified fans are loyal fans and increase the likelihood of better sponsorship deals for a team. Higher levels of team identification with a team could be obtained through a unique brand personality. Brand personality is necessary for sport team managers in order to understand fans’ perception regarding a team brand. As such, managers will be able to better position the teams’ brand and reach the target market accordingly. In South Africa, members of the Generation Y cohort made up 38 percent of the country’s population in 2014 (Statistics South Africa, 2014:9), which in terms of its size, make this cohort a highly relevant market segment. Generation Y, specifically African Generation Y, represents an important current and future market segment for PSL teams. This study focuses on the student segment of the Generation Y cohort. Given that a tertiary qualification generally is associated with a higher future earning capacity and a greater role model status within a society, university students are likely to be of particular interest to marketers. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of African Generation Y students’ perceived brand personality of South African PSL teams on their PSL team identification. The study used an adapted version of a team identification scale (Swanson et al., 2003) and sport brand personality scale (Braunstein & Ross, 2010) to measure the perceptions. The sampling frame for the study comprised the 26 public registered higher education institutions (HEIs) situated in South Africa. The study used one traditional university and one university of technology located in the Gauteng province. A non-probability convenience sample of 450 full time African Generation Y students was taken from the two HEIs. Of the questionnaires completed, 438 were usable. The statistical analysis of the collected data included exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis and independent sample t-tests. The findings suggested that Generation Y students exhibit a positive level of team identification towards their favourite team. Generation Y students perceived their favourite PSL team more hard working, confident, respected, skilled and successful. The results also suggest that the level of team identification with the PSL teams could be predicted by two dimensions (successfulness and ruggedness) of brand personality. Generation Y male and female students only differ regarding the perception of two of the brand personality dimensions (successfulness and sophistication). The findings of this study contribute to the limited literature available concerning the level of team identification and brand personality perceptions of sport teams in the South African context. The study shed light specifically on the level of team identification and brand personality perceptions of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. These were the top two teams identified by the respondents. These findings will assist these PSL teams to understand the brand personality perceptions of the team amongst African Generation Y fans better. The study also indicates some relationship between brand personality and team identification. The results suggest teams can use their brand personality to influence team identification amongst fans positively. These results can be used to assess and alter their current marketing strategies.

There has been a significant amount of growth in soccer game attendance and media coverage since the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa was established in 1996. However, match attendance started to decline from the 2013 season. PSL teams need to do something to get the fans back into the stadiums. A stable fan base is of vital importance for a team’s competitive advantage since the growing commercialisation of sport. The South African PSL is no exception and teams need to comprehend the importance of loyal fans. Team identification is linked to higher game attendance and more fans that are loyal and, therefore, it is relevant to the PSL teams. Higher game attendance will increase the teams’ revenues through ticket sales. Highly identified fans are loyal fans and increase the likelihood of better sponsorship deals for a team. Higher levels of team identification with a team could be obtained through a unique brand personality. Brand personality is necessary for sport team managers in order to understand fans’ perception regarding a team brand. As such, managers will be able to better position the teams’ brand and reach the target market accordingly. In South Africa, members of the Generation Y cohort made up 38 percent of the country’s population in 2014 (Statistics South Africa, 2014:9), which in terms of its size, make this cohort a highly relevant market segment. Generation Y, specifically African Generation Y, represents an important current and future market segment for PSL teams. This study focuses on the student segment of the Generation Y cohort. Given that a tertiary qualification generally is associated with a higher future earning capacity and a greater role model status within a society, university students are likely to be of particular interest to marketers. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of African Generation Y students’ perceived brand personality of South African PSL teams on their PSL team identification. The study used an adapted version of a team identification scale (Swanson et al., 2003) and sport brand personality scale (Braunstein & Ross, 2010) to measure the perceptions. The sampling frame for the study comprised the 26 public registered higher education institutions (HEIs) situated in South Africa. The study used one traditional university and one university of technology located in the Gauteng province. A non-probability convenience sample of 450 full time African Generation Y students was taken from the two HEIs. Of the questionnaires completed, 438 were usable. The statistical analysis of the collected data included exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis and independent sample t-tests. The findings suggested that Generation Y students exhibit a positive level of team identification towards their favourite team. Generation Y students perceived their favourite PSL team more hard working, confident, respected, skilled and successful. The results also suggest that the level of team identification with the PSL teams could be predicted by two dimensions (successfulness and ruggedness) of brand personality. Generation Y male and female students only differ regarding the perception of two of the brand personality dimensions (successfulness and sophistication). The findings of this study contribute to the limited literature available concerning the level of team identification and brand personality perceptions of sport teams in the South African context. The study shed light specifically on the level of team identification and brand personality perceptions of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. These were the top two teams identified by the respondents. These findings will assist these PSL teams to understand the brand personality perceptions of the team amongst African Generation Y fans better. The study also indicates some relationship between brand personality and team identification. The results suggest teams can use their brand personality to influence team identification amongst fans positively. These results can be used to assess and alter their current marketing strategies.

Organizations are seen as custodians of portfolio of projects and are increasingly delivering their businesses through multiple complex programs. To be successful in delivering their businesses, these organizations are required to build a project management capability within their structures. Projects today have become far more than solving of technical problems; they have become more of venues for mastering business and change. Project maturity is used as an indication of or a measurement of the organisation’s ability to use projects for different purposes. An organisational Project Management Maturity Assessment is an effective method for establishing a baseline and provides an impetus for organisational change. Project Management Maturity Models are regarded as effective tools for benchmarking and implementing improvements in organisational performance. In this Dissertation, a study in applying project management maturity model to review, assess, and analyze the degree of organizational project management maturity of one of the Professional Soccer clubs participating in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa is presented. The project management practices and capabilities of the PSL Soccer clubs are reflected. The purpose of this paper is to not only demonstrate the methodology and results of the assessment, but to also report on the outcome of the study and propose the necessary recommendations for improvement. The research was strictly focused on those Professional Soccer clubs which are participating in the South African PSL. For confidentiality purposes, the club in this dissertation is referred to as “The Club”. There has been no similar study that has been carried out in this field before. Therefore, this study aims to break new grounds in conducting a research of this kind in this specific sports field. The main research question posed in this study is: What is the level of organizational project management maturity of the South African PSL Soccer clubs? This research question is supported by five other sub-questions which are answered in a research chapter dealing with the synthesis and analysis of the research results. These research questions were motivated by the following reasons: Organizations are changing drastically in their fundamental ways of conducting business. This change is happening within a short period of time and at an accelerated pace. This change occurs both structurally, operationally, and culturally in response to factors such as globalization, new technology, competition, and the world economy that is various challenges in the marketplace. Organizations are also under pressure to improve on their performance in order to maintain high levels of competitiveness and continue to be successful in the global marketplace and therefore, consistent improvement on their projects or program delivery is required in order to attain competitive advantage and sustained growth. Therefore, considering the reasons presented above, the researcher found it necessary to evaluate the current levels of project management maturity in the PSL Soccer clubs. In order to achieve the study objectives two models were used as tools to assess the degree of The Club’s project management maturity and further highlighted a recommended path for improvement. Firstly, Organisational Project Management Maturity (OPM3) model, which is a standard developed under the stewardship of Project Management Institute (PMI), was used as the main model. Secondly, the Integrated Management Systems Incorporated’s (IMSI) project management assessment model was also used as a supporting model.

This study emphasizes on the Scandinavian soccer leagues team performance and what shapes it. This has been a widely discussed area where previous researchers have focused on factors such as organizational structure, organizational strategy, team level and individual level. The study takes this field to a new level with a combination of these factors in order to conceptualize team performance on a new level. The purpose with this study is to explain how organizational strategy, structure, team level and individual level factors affect team performance, in the Scandinavian elite soccer leagues. In order to investigate this phenomenon we have used a deductive approach. Further, this study emphasizes a quantitative approach where the data has been collected through a document analysis. In this study the findings indicates that the variables that has been chosen are highly correlated to team performance. However, due to the short time frame this study has fostered, it has been hard to generalize how the variables affect team performance. The limitations are that the study´s findings are only based on a two year span, which makes it hard to generalize the results. However, it is clear that the chosen variables have a significant impact on team performance in Scandinavian soccer leagues. The original value of this thesis is a new conceptualization on team performance within the soccer industry.

Sport is an inherently hegemonic hyper masculinity-building project. Therefore, tensions exist when non-hegemonic groups reclaim sport. This thesis questions how normativity is constructed and resisted in non-normative sporting spaces. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, participant observations, self-reflection qualitative methods and post-structural, spatial and post-colonial theory, I problematize how sportsmanship (sportspersonship) is “cultivated” in a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (lgbtq) soccer league . Specifically, I interrogate how queer sporting bodies negotiate (homo/hetero)normativity by either contesting or confirming neoliberal values of ‘sportsmanship.’ Five interlocking themes that emerged from my data suggest that ‘a queer muscularity’ and ‘a normative queer nationhood’ is being (re)produced by and through queer sporting bodies and sports spaces. I argue that we need to be vigilant of queer sporting spaces that claim to be or are assumed to have greater inclusivity because these spaces may actually facilitate the (re)production of dominant discourses and norms.

Sport is an inherently hegemonic hyper masculinity-building project. Therefore, tensions exist when non-hegemonic groups reclaim sport. This thesis questions how normativity is constructed and resisted in non-normative sporting spaces. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, participant observations, self-reflection qualitative methods and post-structural, spatial and post-colonial theory, I problematize how sportsmanship (sportspersonship) is “cultivated” in a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (lgbtq) soccer league . Specifically, I interrogate how queer sporting bodies negotiate (homo/hetero)normativity by either contesting or confirming neoliberal values of ‘sportsmanship.’ Five interlocking themes that emerged from my data suggest that ‘a queer muscularity’ and ‘a normative queer nationhood’ is being (re)produced by and through queer sporting bodies and sports spaces. I argue that we need to be vigilant of queer sporting spaces that claim to be or are assumed to have greater inclusivity because these spaces may actually facilitate the (re)production of dominant discourses and norms.