Danny Jordaan’s re-election as the Safa president for a record-extending fourth consecutive term has faced heavy scrutiny. But the veteran has a chance to turn his detractors into admirers by the time he leaves office through installing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Granted, people are divided on whether the system is truly effective and needed in football, but if anything is to go by from the horrendous officiating that has been on full display in the PSL over the years, there is certainly a need for it in our game.
Not only has a multi-billion rand product, the PSL, come under siege for poor refereeing that has tainted its image, cost teams points and silverware, or cost coaches and players their jobs, but the livelihoods of the officials are also under threat at times.
There has been representation of South African officials in major tournaments, including the senior men’s FIFA World Cup as whistleblower Abongile Tom and linesman Zakhele Siwela made the cut in the recent finals in North America. However, those numbers can still improve.
Enter Safa. They have been tasked with ensuring that they implement the system, providing services to most football games in the country – an initiative that DSAC has backed with funding of R20 million.
That amount, according to Safa chief executive Lydia Monyepao, is strictly for procurement purposes – buying the equipment and all. Phase two of their three-year plan is the training of referees to be able to operate the system – an initiative that Safa says they are already taking care of on their own, with the help of Cosafa. That’s promising.
But while the CEO and her office seem to be singing sweet melodies, the onus is on Jordaan to ensure that plans are turned into reality. It can’t be that years are spent on deliberations with no action plan in motion.
Of course, ensuring that everything is done to the tee will require funds, and Safa has said that monies received from grants are used for specified causes. But with CAF having increased its annual grants from R8.5 million to R11.5 million, while Fifa is set to increase its quadrennial grant from $10 million (roughly R168.8 million) to $25 million (roughly R412 million), Safa might have enough funds at its disposal.
Sure, there’ll be gaps, Safa will want to ensure they fill. However, they have to use the funds appropriately and specifically for the development of football, which includes improving the officiating and control of the game.
That will not only put the PSL on the map as one of the well-developed leagues in the world, but it will also sell a South African product to the world, as the country will go to every sporting bid backed by the development of its sporting facilities across the board.
Again, the VAR concept is still not embraced by all and sundry, but that can’t be a reason for South Africa not to install it in the near future, especially when the relevant stakeholders, notably Safa and its special member, the PSL, know that it has become an integral part of modern football.
Jordaan would help his cause and make up for lost time by ensuring that VAR is installed in what is possibly his last term in office, thereby leaving South African football in a better place. Failure to do so would only shine a brighter spotlight on reports of fund misuse during his reign.