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Despite the promise of VAR ahead of the 2025/26 season, respected former PSL and FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani says there has been no communication around this possibility to match officials.
As from next week referees will attend workshops to brush up on updated rules and new innovations before the campaign gets underway.
But the one technology the football fraternity is waiting for is the introduction of the video assistant referee.
Hlungwani suggests that the deadline to equip match officials to be ready to operate the system has passed.
"There is no equipment, the last thing we heard about VAR is there was a tender that went out to try and get the material for us to start. At the moment the material has not arrived, who was awarded the tender, we don't even know but until such time that SAFA announces that such a person has been awarded the tender then we can say something,” Hlungwani said.
“To train referees for VAR, you don't take one week, so preseason is one week but to train referees for VAR, it can't be one week where we say one week then we're starting with VAR.
“You need some practical session, you need some simulations where you'll do VAR in a game situation, even if it's a lower level, as long as there's TV cameras there then you'll train then after training then you can implement.
“So, for us to implement VAR this season, we're starting on the 1st of August, you won't see VAR this year. Maybe in the following year because remember December we have AFCON, so that huge break if all is sorted.
“That huge break where our national team will be in the AFCON then there's an opportunity to take referees to train there maybe for six weeks or three, four weeks then it can now be implemented but as it is now, forget."
It was Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie who vowed to deliver VAR in the PSL back in April with a tender going out.
Hlungwani, however, argues McKenzie should have been notified of the timelines.
"Knowing the system, whoever put the timeline, if it's the minister, someone should have advised him on the period of training that it takes so much, so therefore it won't be easy for us to implement,” he added.
“So, when the minister comes out he takes into consideration the time period for training of match officials. Yes, the minister can buy the material but the training of people to use those materials also takes time.
“So, there is an information gap in between as to, yes the minister can get the material, who'll implement the material? Who'll get the material, has the person been trained? So, that's where the miscommunication is and I hope it will be corrected."
