Zwane welcomes imminent use of VAR in PSL

Zwane welcomes imminent use of VAR in PSL

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has welcomed the imminent use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and believes it will benefit South African football. 

Zwane was speaking after seeing his team downed 6-5 on penalties by Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup second semi-final at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Chiefs could have benefited from a VAR decision, after Ashley du Preez™s goal was ruled off-side, with replays showing that the assistant made an incorrect call. 

œLook, I didn't even know but we need it. Although, sometimes I feel that it delays the progress of the game and it kills the momentum because you have to wait all the time when there™s something [to check], commented Zwane when asked for his thoughts.

SABC Sport broke the news on Friday that the possible introduction of the VAR in South African football was discussed in the PSL annual general meeting in Sandton. 

READ: PSL set VAR implementation plan in motion

It is also believed the Carling Cup had been earmarked as a testing event for the technology but this was subsequently curbed by world governing body FIFA, who were not informed in time and thus approval was not granted.

Nonetheless, it is believed the testing is going ahead behind the scenes but only for the powers that be to assess the readiness to put the system into practice come next year.

SABC Sport has also since learnt that with the South African Football Association (SAFA) having only three trained VAR match officials in Victor Gomes, Zakhele Siwela and Akhona Makalima - all of whom are on duty at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar and CAF Women™s Champions League in Morocco respectively, the idea to go ahead with the VAR this weekend was going to be a challenge at best.

œWe™re trying by all means at least to take the game to another level and this is going to be a plus for African football, ˜Mangethe™ added.

According to some officials that the public broadcaster's sports desk spoke to at FNB Stadium, what is promising is that the VAR could be coming with SAFA and PSL looking at introducing it next season, once all the match officials have been adequately trained.

By Velile Mnyandu