No VAR at home - bigger challenge at the World Cup

There’s a reason for Siwela to speak like this, as this is his third senior World Cup, a record for a South African match official. 

With one of the leading national leagues on the continent, where SAFA and its special member—the Premier Soccer League (PSL) fall short is the VAR. An area that touches Siwela...

"It's very difficult because we have to switch on and off you know. When we went to AFCON where there was VAR we had to switch on, and when we came back we switched off, and now six months later we switch on again. It becomes very difficult but we try, that's why FIFA brings us in earlier so that we can work around this VAR so that we can be able to adapt, understand, and get use to it so that we can perfect it."

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Through the drive from the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, VAR will be introduced next season and SAFA is expected to give updates before next month’s referees workshop on how this will be carried out. 

But SABC Sport understands that in the first season, there could a gradual introduction of the VAR, starting with the big cup matches. Siwela says the country needs VAR for various reasons...

"Football needs VAR - not only in South Africa because the system assists the referees. We have a difficult job, mostly because mistakes are criticised because they can happen. Once there's VAR, you're looking at more opportunities and job creation that will also come from it."

The full implementation of VAR in the national league would likely be seen in the 2027/2028 season, as a full complement of officials to operate it still needs to be trained. 

Siwela, Tom, Akhona Makhalima, and about four to five other match officials on the FIFA panel are already highly trained on VAR and will most likely lead the cup matches with VAR next season.

Only Jerome Damon has officiated at two World Cups like Siwela, but it’s a record the Alexandre-born linesman will break in this tournament. He was at the 2018 tournament in Russia and Qatar four years ago, and now it’s his third tournament. He’s bracing himself for the fast-paced matches.