Inside The World Of A Tisini Data Agent: An Interview With Joseph Karuri Njoroge “Njoro”

Football is more than just a game; it is a passion, a lifestyle. For some, football is a profession, even if it's off the pitch.  As the sport continues to evolve, data analytics has become a crucial tool for shaping strategies, evaluating player performance, and enhancing team efficiency. 

Joseph Karuri Njoroge, or Njoro, is among a set of individuals working towards transforming African lives. Njoro, a dedicated data agent at Tisini, is part of a team using technology and data to improve how people living in Africa use data in their daily lives.

We sat down with him to explore his journey, challenges, and aspirations in the world of sports data.

From Passion to Profession: The Challenge

For Njoro, being a data agent at Tisini is more than just a job.  is a calling driven by his love for football and analysis.

"I chose this job because I love football and analysis in general, but I was really impressed by what Tisini as a company is trying to do," he shares. 

His passion fuels his commitment to the meticulous work of collecting and analyzing football data, which is essential for modern-day football analytics. While most fans enjoy football for entertainment, Njoro experiences the game through a different lens, and it's not that easy.

"Being honest, it's not fun being an agent while also being a football fan," he admits. "But it helps someone watch football differently, trying to understand what the coach really wants." 

He looks past the surface level of goals and highlights, instead focusing on the underlying tactical strategies and player movement patterns. Njoro doesn't just watch football; he is at work.

On a game day, as a data agent, he will be sitting strategically with the aim of collecting player metrics as the match is ongoing.

Njoro's View on a Match day at the Stima Club

The Learning Curve and Battling Barriers

Working as a data agent is a continuous learning experience. "At Tisini, every day you learn something new," says Njoro. Football statistics are vast, and there is still much to explore. "There’s a lot of data that can be included, and hopefully, with time, we shall become a massive company with lots of data." He added.

Njoro, reflecting on his first year with Tisini, credits the excellent training and guidance he received for making it easier to follow his passion. He found the field agent training, conducted by Benson and Max, who joined Tisni much earlier than him, to be exceptionally insightful.

“I gained valuable insights into data collection techniques, improved my confidence while covering matches, and learned the importance of concentration,” he explains.

One of the key skills he developed was the ability to recall crucial sequences that cannot be immediately logged into the app. He finds himself in a role where he has to achieve perfect accuracy and keenness. As a football data agent, he knows every second matters.

Given the fast pace of football, ensuring data accuracy is a critical aspect of Njoro’s job. "Concentration during matches is key," he emphasizes. "You have to keep in mind those first sequences that cannot be keyed into our app immediately and avoid distractions from people around you."

Despite his enthusiasm, Njoro acknowledges that football analytics in Kenya face significant challenges. One of the primary obstacles is gaining access to stadiums.

“Many people don’t fully understand what we do, so gaining entry to cover matches can sometimes be frustrating,” he shares.

Another challenge is the slow adoption of data-driven football analysis. “While fans of big clubs are excited to see player stats, there is still a lot to be done to make analytics an integral part of Kenyan football.”

Additionally, the lack of resources is a pressing issue. “My only tool is a smartphone with internet access, which I use to collect stats,” he says. 

Ideally, football analytics should be supported by better technological infrastructure, but for now, they make do with what they have. Despite working with minimal tools, he remains dedicated to the craft.

Memorable Moments and Aspirations

One of Njoro’s most memorable experiences was training. “Learning from them was fun. I got to understand a lot of things deeply and improved my confidence while covering matches.”

Looking ahead, he dreams of seeing Tisini gain recognition within the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and on the continent of Africa.

"My aspiration is for our company to get recognized by KPL clubs and improve our quality of data so that our data can be used across the league."

Data analytics is transforming the way fans engage with football. "People are impressed by seeing stats from their favorite players, especially teams with a huge fanbase," Njoro observes.

However, he acknowledges that much more needs to be done for data-driven insights to gain widespread visibility across all football leagues.

Looking to the future, Njoro hopes to become a performance analyst. "I want to analyze all sorts of data, hopefully with Tisini or working directly with football clubs," he shares. He envisions a future where sports data collection is fully embraced in Kenya. 

"It’s an ignored product in our football, but it's a good and growing sector. I hope one day, clubs will have at least five analysts each because a lot of people can be employed if our football grows in the right way."

For aspiring sports data agents, he offers simple yet powerful advice: "Go for it. Start learning and do your thing the right way. But remember, ‘Hakuna rahisi,’ a coach once told me that. So hold your head high and keep pushing."

For now, Njoro continues covering matches, currently focusing on Equity FC, having previously worked on Makarios FC. Every game presents a new opportunity to enhance his skills, contribute to football analytics, and bring data-driven insights to Kenyan football. The road ahead may be challenging, but the potential for transformation is immense.