DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has announced that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be introduced in the country starting next season, following the completion of training and FIFA’s approval.
TFF’s Second Vice-President, Steven Mnguto, made the announcement on Monday during the opening of a two-day FIFA and TFF workshop on VAR in Dar es Salaam.
The workshop, led by FIFA VAR experts, is aimed at equipping Tanzanian officials with the necessary skills to effectively operate the VAR system.
Mguto clarified that contrary to some perceptions, VAR would not be implemented immediately upon its arrival in Tanzania. He explained that there are necessary processes and requirements to be met before its introduction.
“People assumed that once our sponsor brought the VAR, it would be used right away, but there are steps to follow, including securing approval and FIFA experts overseeing the training will grant approval when they are satisfied that our officials are fully prepared to operate the technology,” Mguto disclosed.
He further explained that the timeline for VAR’s implementation will depend on the progress of the training, with FIFA experts providing the final assessment once the local officials have completed their training.
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Mguto stressed that while VAR will enhance decision-making on the field, it will not completely eliminate all challenges.
“This is a positive step and we must celebrate it. While it may not resolve every refereeing issue, it will significantly reduce many of them,” he said.
He encouraged sports enthusiasts across the country to embrace the development, emphasising that the adoption of VAR will help address various officiating challenges in matches.
The timeline for the introduction of VAR will be determined by the readiness of local officials, with the system expected to be rolled out as soon as the training and approval process is completed.
