VAR, sorry PSL, maybe next season? Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie opens up about the introduction of the technology in Mzansi

The Premier Soccer League is currently among the best in Africa, owing to the quality of players and prizes for the teams, as well as monthly grants.

Good players are now interested in playing in Mzansi since they know it will be easy to be spotted when they ply their trade there.

Just like any top league, there must be challenges that directly affect the game in South Africa.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has been promising to introduce the Video Assistant Referee to help minimise mistakes in the South African top flight.

Initially, the Government official had promised that VAR would be put in place in the 2024/25 campaign, but it didn't materialise.

He later said R90 million has been set aside for the project; however, in his latest update, McKenzie has revealed there is no money that has been reserved for VAR, but underlined the need to have it.

“We are also finalising the process of funding VAR to ensure that football matches, from the Premier Soccer League through to the international fixtures we host, are fairer and meet global standards,” he told the parliament.. 

“It is a necessity. We see stadiums vandalised when bad refereeing happens, and the success of teams like Mamelodi Sundowns makes global teams want to play here.

"But they get second thoughts because we don’t have VAR," McKenzie concluded.

Following their good showing in the Club World Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns won fans' hearts from around the world.

It will be vital to improve the game in Mzansi to continue attracting investors, which, in turn, will mean players get more money.