Kenyan referees will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of VAR at a CAF VAR Academy workshop in Tanzania next month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is launching the VAR Academy for its 54 Member Associations to enhance officiating standards across Africa.
Following the successful 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which received praise for its high-quality officiating, CAF aims to build on this success by training elite referees for international and national competitions. The academy will be a pivotal step toward introducing VAR across the continent.
“In recent months, CAF has focused on upskilling match officials in VAR usage, leading to highly rated officiating at AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. We need a broader pool of trained referees,” stated CAF Technical Development Director, Raul Chipenda.
He added, “officiating is crucial for African football’s growth, as evidenced by AFCON’s success. CAF supports various development programs, ensuring referees across Africa are equipped with the latest officiating technology.”
The CAF VAR Academy will host workshops across zonal unions, reaching 180 referees. Tanzania will welcome CECAFA region referees from September 30 to October 5 as it prepares to introduce VAR in the Tanzanian Premier League.
While Kenya is not yet ready to implement VAR, CAF believes that training its referees in the technology will enhance Africa’s capability and prepare officials for international duties.
