Veronica Gwaze Zimpapers Sports Hub IN a move that could re-write the rules of domestic football and silence years of refereeing controversy that has tainted the domestic game, Zimbabwe is on the brink of introducing Video Assistant Referee technology to the Premier Soccer League, thanks to strategic talks between ZIFA and FIFA. ZIFA vice-president Kennedy Ndebele and general secretary Yvonne Manwa have initiated formal engagements with FIFA to explore the feasibility of rolling out VAR in the country. The game-changing technological system could soon be a staple of local football, revolutionising officiating and restoring credibility to some of the match officials’ decisions. VAR is a sophisticated system designed to support referees in making more accurate decisions on key incidents, goals, penalties, offsides, offences in build-up play, red cards and mistaken identity. The system employs video technology, with a panel of referees analysing crucial match footage and immediately advising the on-field official when necessary. With Zimbabwean football plagued by officiating blunders, some of which have resulted in match abandonments, protests and suspensions, introducing VAR is being seen not just as a solution but as a necessity. On their part, ZIFA have cracked down on errant referees, suspending those found on the wrong end of the expected conduct. Manwa confirmed to Zimpapers Sports Hub that consultations with FIFA have begun. “We have engaged FIFA on our need for VAR training in Zimbabwe and possible use thereafter,” said Manwa. “We are now waiting for them to come back to us with a date for a “Kick-off” meeting, where they will send their team to assess feasibility and determine what we need to do to make it happen.” Manwa revealed that while VAR is technologically demanding and comes with a huge financial burden, ZIFA are exploring partnerships to make the trial project feasible. “VAR requires a lot of equipment, which is a bit expensive and not readily available in Zimbabwe,” she noted. To bridge the gap, ZIFA are reaching out to regional allies. “We are talking to colleagues at our regional body, COSAFA. They have the equipment, and I’m sure they will extend it to us for use during our trial period, which we hope to initiate soon, once FIFA come through for the “Kick-off” meeting.” ZIFA are not acting alone in this audacious bid. Manwa disclosed that the football body have engaged several local stakeholders, including broadcasters and the Premier Soccer League, in a bid to create a cohesive VAR environment. “We have had discussions with our other local partners to see how we can come together to make this a reality. We had a meeting with local broadcasters ZTN Prime and ZBC as well as the Premier Soccer League just for us to align in terms of what’s needed in preparation for our VAR trial run.” The inclusion of broadcasters is particularly crucial, given VAR’s reliance on multiple high-quality camera angles and live footage. Ndebele, who also oversees the refereeing portfolio on the ZIFA executive committee, sees the initiative as a leap forward in aligning Zimbabwean football with global standards. “Our main goal is to bring sanity to our domestic game. Having VAR will help reduce the number of clear errors in match officiating,” Ndebele said. “Engagements between ZIFA and FIFA are already underway, and in due course, we will share the nitty-gritties of the entire process.” Ndebele acknowledged that the implementation will come at a steep cost. However, ZIFA are prepared to reach out to sponsors and the corporate sector to raise the necessary funding. “Once engagements are done and everything is on the table, we will then mobilise and put together resources for the final phase, which is to deliver and install.” Local match officiating has faced intense scrutiny in recent seasons. Incidents of poor officiating have marred the image of the game, led to referee suspensions, club protests and even abandoned matches. Such referees as Lawrence Zimondi, Nelson Meke and Tichaona Mbire have been suspended due to officiating errors. “For some time, we have been focusing on the continuous development of our referees to try and improve our games,” added Ndebele. “Now we are taking the next step. VAR will go a long way in solving most of these officiating problems and also improve the quality of our domestic game.” Introduced globally by the International Football Association Board in 2018, VAR has seen mixed reviews but increasing adoption. In Africa, Morocco led the way by introducing it in the 2019 Coupe du Trone, followed by their domestic league while Egypt joined the trend in 2020. Despite some concerns over game flow disruptions, VAR is now standard in many competitions, including the COSAFA Cup. Former CAPS United player and football analyst David Sengu praised the initiative. “Football is evolving. VAR is now the way to go. Other nations have adopted it, and to keep up with global trends, we also need to,” he said. “Without VAR to automate and improve decision-making, we risk being left behind while the rest of the world advances.” Former Mighty Warriors star Precious Moyo echoed the sentiment, noting that the technology would protect referees as much as it would safeguard the sport’s integrity. “VAR is now at the forefront of modern trends in football officiating. Not using the VAR system at this stage is actually a measure of prejudice. ZIFA needs to treat this issue with urgency.“We need all hands on deck to have the system in place, for the good of the game,” she said.