The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has launched a historic Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Workshop in Lusaka, bringing together 40 male and female referees for an intensive five-day training program.
This initiative marks the first VAR training of its kind in East, Central, and Southern Africa, highlighting a major step forward in the region’s football officiating standards.
The workshop is led by top global and regional experts, including FIFA IT Technology Support and COSAFA VAR specialist Ramy Gamal, FIFA VAR Instructor Carlos Astroza, and COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima, who also serves as the VAR project manager.
Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Tangawarima reaffirmed COSAFA’s commitment to integrating VAR across its competitions.
“For 2025, all our COSAFA tournaments will feature VAR,” he stated. “Zambia is the first country in the Central, East, and Southern zones to implement a full VAR project rollout. Over the next five days, each referee will undergo a minimum of 25 hours of training, which is the requirement for certification.”
The training program is a crucial step as the Zambian Super League prepares to introduce VAR in the upcoming season. Tangawarima emphasized the importance of developing local officials, recalling that during the 2023 Absa Cup final, Zambia had to rely on foreign VAR-certified referees due to a lack of trained personnel.
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga, who officiated the opening ceremony, expressed gratitude to COSAFA for supporting Zambia’s VAR initiative.
“Please extend our appreciation to the COSAFA Executive for bringing this initiative to Zambia,” Kamanga said. “The successful implementation of VAR requires trained officials, and this exercise is crucial in ensuring we are prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Kamanga also highlighted FAZ’s broader commitment to integrating technology in Zambian football, referencing the recent introduction of the Global Tracking System for all Super League teams. These advancements align with FAZ’s 10-year strategic plan, Vision 2030, aimed at modernizing the game in Zambia.
With this groundbreaking training, Zambia takes a significant step towards the full adoption of VAR, ensuring that its referees are equipped to officiate at the highest level.
