Innocent Chikoya, a former defender for the Orlando Pirates, has provided a reason for South Africa's apparent lag in using Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology compared to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is set to implement the system later this month, which is a major step forward for the country's football administration and officiating standards; the remarks made by the former defender are timely.

Goals, penalties, straight red cards, and mistaken identification are just a few of the important situations that match officials may assess with the help of VAR. With its implementation, significant refereeing mistakes should be lessened and decision-making should be improved throughout matches.

In an interview, Chikoya—who has played for South African side Orlando Pirates—posted the hypothesis that Zimbabwe's relative success may be due to a lack of investment in strategic planning and an unwillingness to embrace new technologies.

A better developed football infrastructure and a more competitive domestic league in South Africa have attracted attention to the fact that Zimbabwe is getting ready to modernise its match officiating, which is a big deal.

Considering the growing use of VAR in major tournaments worldwide, its implementation might bring Zimbabwean football in line with international norms.

Nevertheless, getting the gear is only half the battle when it comes to actually putting the strategy into action. Meeting all applicable legal standards, building technological facilities, educating match officials, and guaranteeing dependable communication systems are all part of the process.

An crucial litmus test for Zimbabwe's preparedness to use the technology during competitive matches will be the expected premiere later this month.

On the other hand, Chikoya's remarks will undoubtedly spark more discussion in South Africa on the country's efforts to use VAR and if other measures should be taken to include the technology into its domestic football tournaments.

While the details behind Chikoya's evaluation are lacking, it has certainly brought attention to the disparate development of the two adjacent football countries.

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