The Chibuku Super Cup final could provide the first test for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Zimbabwean football, as preparations gather pace for its wider use in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and eventual rollout in the Premier Soccer League next season.

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president Nqobile Magwizi said the association had completed the kickoff phase of the VAR project in partnership with FIFA and sponsor Sakunda, with the next stage focusing on intensive training of referees.

“We have gone through the kickoff process, and now the next phase is the training of the referees. We already have equipment in situ now, a sample that we'll be using for the training at the National Sports Stadium come the 25th of October,” Magwizi said.

The FIFA team was in Zimbabwe on September 21 to take officials through the processes required for the country to officially install VAR and adopt it as part of its refereeing system.

Magwizi said the Chibuku Super Cup final could become the first domestic match to use the technology, although the final decision would depend on the progress made by referees during training.

“You realize that possibly the Chibuku Cup Final, of course, in consultation with PSL, may have VAR being used. You realize that some of the main matches of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup may have VAR,” he said.

He added that Zimbabwe already had seven referees with VAR training, providing a foundation for the project as more match officials undergo further training and certification.

Felix Tangawarima, the COSAFA VAR Project Manager and FIFA instructor responsible for referee development in Africa, said the Chibuku final had been deliberately incorporated into the training programme to allow Zimbabwe to test the system before a wider rollout.

“We are targeting to implement it, but we cannot roll it out in the Premier League without testing how it works,” Tangawarima said.

“We have actually designed a programme whereby, just to coincide with the first knockout tournament, the Chibuku Cup final, if all goes well, the Chibuku Cup final will be the first game to be officiated with VAR.”

Tangawarima said referees would undergo four weeks of intensive training, beginning with theoretical sessions before moving on to practical work using the VAR equipment.

The plan is to then use VAR in the two semi-finals of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup before the technology is deployed in the competition's final. The performances and lessons from those matches will be assessed before a decision is made on the full rollout.

“We will then evaluate how we would have done in preparation for rolling it out in the next season. But the timeline is that we need the next season of the Premier League. We need to be officiating with the VAR,” Tangawarima said.

Magwizi said ZIFA was also exploring the use of mobile VAR kits installed in vans, which would allow the technology to be moved between venues.

“If we bring in more kits which are maybe installed in vans, those getaway kits, it will be possible for a van to administer one venue and tomorrow go to another venue,” he said.

He said discussions with sponsors were continuing to secure additional mobile units, with the current commitments potentially allowing VAR coverage for up to eight matches over a Friday-to-Sunday weekend.

“Based on what has been committed, we can safely be able to cover eight matches a weekend,” Magwizi said.

However, he stressed that the rollout would have to be carefully coordinated with competition managers and the refereeing department to ensure the available resources match the requirements of each competition.

The ZIFA president said a nationwide VAR system would cost approximately US$3.2 million, but added that the association was encouraged by the support already secured and interest from other potential partners.

“Now to roll out a whole system that will cover the whole country, you're looking at about 3.2 million to cover the whole country,” Magwizi said.