VAR to be installed at 3 Zimbabwe stadiums

Sakunda Holdings has partnered with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to bring Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to three of the country's major football stadiums, with the first installation expected to be operational before the end of 2026.

The National Sports Stadium in Harare will be the first venue to receive the technology, with installation of a full VAR system targeted for completion by December 2026.

Rufaro Stadium in Harare and Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo will follow in the second phase, with the installations expected to be completed by March 2027.

The agreement will see Sakunda finance the procurement and installation of the VAR systems, including broadcast-quality cameras, monitor screens and communication infrastructure required for video-assisted officiating.

ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi confirmed the partnership on Thursday, describing the development as a major milestone for Zimbabwean football.

"In an era where technology is the in-thing across the globe, it is a huge milestone not just for ZIFA but for our entire football ecosystem to have Video Assistant Referee equipment installed at the National Sports Stadium," Magwizi said.

He said ZIFA ultimately wanted VAR coverage at all major football venues but welcomed the partnership as an important first step.

"We would love to have VAR across our major venues but we are very grateful to Sakunda Holdings for partnering us in the installation of VAR equipment at the National Stadium for a start," he said.

Sakunda has previously played a significant role in the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium, including supporting pitch renovations and floodlight upgrades.

Magwizi said the VAR project formed part of the broader modernisation of the 60,000-capacity facility.

"This is in line with the modernisation which has taken place at the stadium, which is a vital national asset and for which Sakunda played a key role," he said.

Sources familiar with the agreement said the overall investment across the three stadiums could be worth approximately US$2.5 million, although ZIFA has not publicly confirmed the figure.

The partnership followed approximately three months of negotiations between the ZIFA executive committee and Sakunda management.

The two parties are still finalising legal and operational arrangements governing the use, maintenance and management of the equipment.

ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede said the association was also preparing local officials to operate the new technology.

A delegation of Zimbabwean referees and technicians is expected to travel to South Africa in October for intensive VAR training, with a second group scheduled to undergo training in January 2027.

The training programme will coincide with the phased installation of the technology at the three venues.

Under the current rollout plan, the National Sports Stadium will become the first Zimbabwean venue to host domestic matches with VAR-assisted officiating.

The technology is expected to be available for the start of the 2027 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, provided the installation, testing and accreditation processes are completed as scheduled.

The introduction of VAR is expected to strengthen officiating standards in Zimbabwe by allowing match officials to review key incidents, including potential goals, penalties, direct red-card decisions and cases of mistaken identity.

For Zimbabwean football, the project represents a significant technological upgrade and could also strengthen the country's ability to host higher-level international competitions requiring modern officiating infrastructure.