Botswana On The Cusp Of VAR Implementation
The Botswana Football Federation (BFA) has taken a bold step towards implementing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in their domestic league, aiming to become the first nation to utilize the technology in the COSAFA region.
In what could be a historic milestone, Botswana might become the first country in the COSAFA region to implement VAR technology. Referee Instructor Felix Tangawarima emphasized the importance of referee training in achieving VAR certification.
“For a referee to be certified, they have to be trained and go through a minimum of 25 hours. This will enable Botswana referees to be VAR certified and participate or be called for international match fixtures to officiate,” said Tangawarima.
As part of the implementation process, COSAFA will conduct intensive VAR training sessions in Botswana this April, where referees are expected to undergo a minimum of 25 hours of training. This training will not only prepare them for domestic competitions using VAR but will also open doors for Botswana’s referees to officiate in international matches.
With preparations now in full swing, Botswana football is on the cusp of a major transformation, positioning itself among the top footballing nations embracing modern officiating technology.
The distance between the professional game and where Namibia’s domestic game is at the current moment seems to be quite a mountain to climb; however this will give the entire region confidence to push further for professionalisation of football.
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