Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA’s investment into modern match officiating gathered momentum yesterday with FIFA experts conducting a two-day Video Assistant Referee Kick-off meeting in Harare.
FIFA referees instructor Felix Tangawarima and his colleagues from the world football body Inokuchi Takaachi and Michael Bailey are conducting the workshop being attended by representatives from the Premier Soccer League, ZIFA, top-flight clubs, government and municipalities who own some stadiums.
The game-changing ZIFA revolution also received a major boost with energy giants Sakunda Holdings reiterating their commitment to funding the implementation of the VAR technology and processes in the country.
Sakunda, through their chief executive officer Kudakwashe Tagwirei, have already revealed plans to financially back the implementation of VAR technology at Rufaro, Barbourfields and the National Sports Stadium.
In a remarks made on his behalf by the company’s chief operating officer Mberikwazvo Chitambo, Tagwirei said Sakunda took pride in supporting the growth of football through funding such initiatives like the implementation of VAR technology in Zimbabwe.
“Sakunda has been associated with football in this country for some time.
“It with a measure of pride that we come to join this ZIFA, VAR project.
“It is with deep concern for the growth of sport, especially football that we join you and we do so with pride,” Chitambo said.
Apart from being major sponsors of three top Premiership clubs — Dynamos, Highlanders and Scottland, Sakunda Holdings funded the bulk of the National Sports Stadium refurbishment which was anchored on the installation of bucket seats and modernisation of the facility to meet Confederation of African Football requirements.
“We stand with ZIFA on this project and we want to see it succed at the home of football at Rufaro Stadium, at Barbourfields and at the National Sports Stadium.
“We will also support implementation of VAR technology at venues which ZIFA would have recommended.
“Let us all leave no stone unturned to make sure that this project works,” he said.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi said the implementation of VAR is one of “many reforms that we want to initiate and we want to shape the future of the game.
“We are looking to kick off the VAR project and today marks the start of that milestone.
“It does not mean VAR will be at the next game but we are going to work closely in consultation with FIFA and colleagues in the region to train our referees, install the technology and implement VAR,” Magwizi said.
ZIFA have tasked Tangawarima with heading the Zimbabwe VAR project.
And the record eight-time Zimbabwe Referee of the Year Tangawarima wasted no time in rolling out a condensed training program for the VAR match officals.
Tangawarima, however, warned that Zimbabwe would have to satisfy FIFA in order the VAR implementation program to be approved.
“We can’t go through VAR without training referees specialised in VAR and thankfully Zimbabwe already has seven VAR referees who were trained by CAF and COSAFA.
“Referees have to do a minimum 25 hours of training for VAR. This project is not just about training referees, we want ZIFA to have own manpower to run the project and these include operations and the technicians,” Tangawarima said.
“When we are doing this training, it is not ZIFA, it is not COSAFA but it is FIFA who will be leading this training because it is only FIFA who can certify VAR officials.
“We need to start from somewhere and we are fortunate that we already have seven from Zimbabwe.
“One of Zimbabwe’s best referees Brighton Chimene is already officiating CAF Champions League matches from one country to the other” added Tangawarima.
The FIFA VAR experts are also expected to use the occasion of their visit to Harare to do further engagement with ZIFA to outline the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).
This program guides FIFA Member Associations in officially implementing VAR.
