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McKenzie to get VAR ball rolling

todayOctober 14, 2024 25

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SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan and Gayton McKenzie Minister of Sports Arts and Culture during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers match between South Africa and Uganda at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto, on 06 September 2024 © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Sport Minister, Gayton McKenzie, says strides are being made on the implementation of the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) system in South Africa.

Speaking to the public broadcaster last week, Mckenzie said the government was ready to put down a deposit and was working on garnering sponsors to fund the project.

“We spoke specifically about VAR [with SAFA and PSL], we are now ready to move with VAR, we are going to put the deposit down as the department and we will then get sponsors to pay for it but we can’t wait,” McKenzie said.

“From next week the ball is rolling with VAR and I want to thank the SAFA NEC for the work that they have already done in as far as VAR is concerned.”

The option they are looking for is estimated at R80 million annually, including training and will cost an additional R70 000 per match. McKenzie says they know that it won’t come cheap, but they have to make progress.

“Yeah, I’m a man of timelines, it’s very expensive, the president of SAFA is right, and we can’t have SAFA alone carry the load. Soccer makes all of us happy, this is a national team,” he added.

“We as government are willing, the government of national unity will definitely put in the bulk of that money together with sponsorships, together with SAFA themselves and together with people that love football.” he added.

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari

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