Local referees undertake VAR training in Dar es Salaam

DAR ES SALAAM: A TOTAL of 20 local referees, including renowned officials like Ahmed Arajiga, Herry Sasii, Ramadhani Kayoko and Tatu Malogo, are currently undergoing intensive training on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to boost the efficiency and accuracy of officiating in country’s football.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Communication Officer, Cliford Ndimbo revealed that the five-day training session, which is taking place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, will run until Friday.

“We’ve started with a select group of referees and after this phase, we plan to continue training more officials. Our goal is to ensure that all referees are well-versed in the use of VAR technology,” Ndimbo said.

The training is being overseen by Tameer Dorry, a VAR expert from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), who is guiding the participants through the technical intricacies of the system.

This crucial training comes just days before the highly anticipated derby between Tanzania’s football giants, Simba and their archrivals Young Africans, both of whom are currently competing for the Mainland Premier League title. The match, set to take place a day after the training concludes, has sparked great eagerness and the TFF aims to ensure top-notch officiating during this electrifying clash.

The selected referees undergoing the VAR training include some of the best in the country: Ahmed Arajiga, Amina Kyando, Herry Sasii, Tatu Malogo, Nasir Siyah, Mohamed Simba, Ramadhani Kayoko, Alex Pangars, Abdallah Mwinyimkuu, Esther Adabert, Frank Komba, Kassim Seif and Ally Ramadhan, among others.

Other participants include Hamdani Said, Mohamed Mkono, Janeth Balama, Glory Tesha, Zawadi Yussuph, Siraji Mkwaju and Shaban Mussa.

The decision to introduce VAR training follows a series of controversial officiating decisions that have sparked debates throughout the current season. Fans and clubs alike have voiced concerns over questionable calls, prompting TFF to take action.

At the beginning of the season, TFF announced the gradual rollout of VAR technology, with referee training being the first step. This course is designed to familiarise officials with the system, ensuring they are well-prepared to make accurate decisions during critical match moments.

With the high-stakes Simba and Yanga derby just around the corner, all eyes will be on the referees to see if this new training can help eliminate errors and ensure fair decisions. The football community is eager to witness a thrilling and error-free encount