South Africans React As Zimbabwe Becomes First in Sub-Saharan Africa to Introduce VAR
- Zimbabwe is preparing to introduce VAR at the Chibuku Super Cup final, putting its domestic football in the spotlight ahead of a historic debut
- FIFA referees instructor Felix Tangawarima has identified a key requirement that could determine whether the new technology succeeds
- South African football fans have reacted with disbelief, turning the announcement into a debate about why the PSL has yet to adopt VAR
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Source: Twitter
Zimbabwe is set to make football history by introducing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in a competitive match, with the Chibuku Super Cup final scheduled for 28 November 2026 at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced the development during a training workshop for match officials in Harare on 27 October 2026. FIFA referees instructor Felix Tangawarima led the training as Zimbabwe prepared to use the system to help officials review contentious decisions, including offside calls and red-card incidents.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi said the implementation would assist referees and protect the integrity of Zimbabwean football. The rollout is expected to begin with selected matches at major stadiums.
VAR success depends on broadcasters
Tangawarima warned that training referees would not be enough if broadcasters could not integrate the technology into match coverage.
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“Yes, we may have trained the referees, but we also need the broadcasters to be moving with us on the same wavelength. If we leave the broadcasters out, then we will not succeed,” he said, as quoted by ZimLive.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and Zimpapers Television Network hold the broadcasting rights for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. Their technical coordination will be important to the successful use of VAR.
SABC Sport's Velile Mnyandu shared a video of Zimbabwe's VAR training session on X:
South African football fans question the PSL
Zimbabwe's announcement has prompted debate among South African supporters, many of whom questioned why the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has yet to introduce the technology.
@ChiccoDhladhla wrote:
“Sihlulwa abantu [We are being beaten by people] who hardly had a stadium to play any CAF... suddenly they are on top of everything.”
@NetNomad710 commented:
“Crazy that our league ranks higher, but Zim seems to have more competent people than us.”
@Thabang____ suggested that money might not be the only obstacle, writing:
“Goes to show that budget isn’t the issue. There are people who don’t want VAR in the PSL.”
Meanwhile, @Greyy_Ltd congratulated Zimbabwe and told South African supporters:
“Congratulations to us Zimbabwe; for South Africans, just be happy for us and don't worry, your time will come.”
Other users directed their frustration at the South African Football Association (SAFA), with @MzeeSam1 writing:
“@SAFA_net shame on you.”
The reactions reflect a growing online debate about the pace of technological change in South African football. However, the comments represent individual social media users and do not establish why the PSL has not introduced VAR.
What Zimbabwe's VAR debut means
The Chibuku Super Cup final on 28 November will be a significant test of Zimbabwe's preparations. Referee training, broadcast integration and the availability of suitable infrastructure will all be important to the rollout.
For South African football, the development has renewed questions about when VAR might be introduced locally. Zimbabwe's planned debut does not, on its own, establish that the technology will be more effective there, but it puts the implementation process under regional scrutiny.
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Source: Briefly News
