Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWEAN referees have welcomed the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to domestic football in a landmark move meant to protect match officials and safeguard the integrity of the game.
Under the Nqobile Magwizi-led ZIFA administration, Zimbabwe will become the first nation in Sub-Saharan Africa to implement VAR in domestic football.
Local match officials, with support from FIFA, officially resumed the inaugural VAR Training on Tuesday, with the programme running in phases until November 16, after which participants will undergo assessments as part of the certification and implementation process.
The system is scheduled for a pilot during the Chibuku Super Cup final on November 28, marking a bold step in the positive direction for a league that has been plagued by controversial officiating decisions in the past years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, award winning referee Brighton Chimene, who has officiated at AFCON, WAFCON and CHAN as a VAR official, applauded the move.
“I am overly happy and excited for the coming of VAR in Zimbabwe, especially for our PSL and Cup games because it shows that as a football nation, we are ready to improve our game,” he said.
“VAR is here to assist us as referees because without this technology football incidents are left unchecked and some mistakes uncorrected, but with VAR, we are confident it will make a big difference.”
Refereeing in Zimbabwe’s volatile football environment has been tough in the recent past, with officials often subjected to intense pressure, threats and criticism after errors.
This made the coming of VAR into Zimbabwe long overdue.
In Africa, VAR has only been used at continental level by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at AFCON and in North African leagues in Morocco and Egypt.
Globally, advanced football technology has become standard in Europe’s top leagues, the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and the FIFA World Cup since 2018.
“As referees, sometimes we make mistakes. You know the pressure from all stakeholders if we make a mistake, but with VAR I am sure our job will be easier,” Chimene said.
“Now the onus is on us (referees) to take it seriously to improve ourselves because with VAR, the laws of the game should be at your fingertips, have technical knowhow of analysing the images etc.”
FIFA has been pushing member associations to adopt VAR as part of their Vision 2023-2027 to modernise the game.
If Zimbabwe’s pilot is successful, ZIFA plans a full PSL roll-out next season, potentially setting a blueprint for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Referee Blessing Mpande opines that the coming of VAR will restore sanity in domestic football.
“A lot of friction had been born over the years between referees and football stakeholders due to certain calls during matches,” she said.
“With VAR, our decisions will now be guided, and even the stakeholders will understand that proper consultations and considerations were made to get to the decision.”
Budding referee Mncedisi Maphosa said the coming of VAR will not only improve the local game, but it will also improve the local referees and make them competitive on the global stage.
“Understanding how to work with VAR is empowering to us; it makes us comparable to other referees across the globe who are moving with time and technology,” he said.
“VAR will improve our efficiency in applying and interpreting the laws of the game, improve our analysis and also help fans, coaches and players to understand how we see and analyse situations on the field.
“This way, I think a lot will improve in our football and definitely even more sponsors can come.”
FIFA VAR certified referee Claris Nyatanga weighed in that ZIFA’s bold move will play a big role in seeing more Zimbabwean referees getting appointments from international games.
“We have embraced this move with positivity; it brings a lot of opportunities like more appointments on the big stages,” she said.
“I trained in South Africa, and it was not easy doing it away from home, but now the programme is here, and it is a big step for us (referees) as we strive to raise the Zimbabwean flag out there.”
