Confirmed: CAF to help speed up VAR training in COSAFA nations

This was confirmed by Felix Tangawarima, the COSAFA head of referees currently serving as a technical instructor at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Speaking to SABC Sport in Abidjan, the experienced Tangawarima explained how the continental motherbody plans to accelerate the use of modern technology in its regions, which includes South Africa as well.

"As COSAFA, we have been, actually, advocating for that [VAR]. We are working hand-in-hand with CAF, as far as the zone is concerned," stressed Tandawarima.

"I think within the next week or two, CAF is going to send us training equipment for our region, which means whatever we are doing, every time we are actually communicating with CAF, and they are behind it.

"The fact that we are going to get training equipment from CAF within the next two or three weeks, it means we are actually in this together – the zone and CAF, but at the end of the day we bring a product like we have just brought here."

One of the major steps taken by COSAFA was the announcement to introduce VAR at the senior women’s championship hosted in Johannesburg late last year – from the semifinals stage of the competition. 

Tangawarima says the plan is in motion for the system to be available in all future tournaments from now on, while he urged federations to be open minded. 

"I would encourage, when we are doing our [COSAFA] tournament – for example, when we start our tournament, right now I was speaking with the secretary general [of CAF, Veron Mosengo-Omba], we will be using it in the senior challenge, which is around May.

"And I'm encouraging the national associations, in addition to the referees we as the zone select for the tournament, if they can sacrifice and bring more referees from their own association for our five-day training programme, it will help a lot."

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