Local football authorities are under pressure to implement the VAR system with Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi the latest to make his voice heard after a 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs.
Mngqithi was left fuming when midfielder Sabelo Sithole was brought down inside the 18-yard box by Thabiso Monyane in last Saturday's Betway Premiership clash at Moses Mabhida, with the foul going unpunished by the match officials.
READ: Discipline issue confronts Kaizer Chiefs
“The only sad thing is that sometimes when you look at the decisions of penalties, free kicks, and fouls in the PSL, I don’t think we are winning much without VAR," said Mngqithi during the post-match press conference.
"I don’t think we are winning much. We can say whatever we want to say, without VAR we are exposed,.
“This is because decisions are taken and we move on, nobody talks. It's Arrows, nobody talks, but if it's somebody (else), maybe something happens. The only honest truth is that referees have been given a carte blanche way of doing what they want.
READ: Shalulile’s rewards get approval
"Even if the decisions are atrocious, it's okay. It depends on who was beaten on the day. If it's somebody bigger than the other in the animal farm, it will be an issue.
"If it happens against a team that maybe less fencied,it's okay. Tomorrow is another day, we move on. Life has to go on,” added the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach.
There has been talk of VAR's introduction to Mzansi's topflight, but so far that has failed to get off the ground. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie had promised that the technology would be introduced in the PSL by April 2024, but SAFA have appeared to sing from a different hymnbook.
Issues to do with training for match officials and the overall cost of having VAR across all the stadium have been raised as stumbling blocks.
As questionable decisions continue to be made week in and week, much to the chagrin of coaches, fans and even the players themselves, the country waits with bated breath with no VAR update coming from the powers that be.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
