Gayton McKenzie says VAR is ready — SAFA says it isn't
The South African Football Association's referees boss, Ebrahim Patel, has given an update on the status of the introduction of VAR in the Betway Premiership.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has been speaking a lot about VAR and promised South African football fans that it was 'coming soon.'
Speaking three weeks ago, McKenzie said: 'I promised and I said the month of April. I've done it. The money is there, the advert went out. FIFA will tell you they don't want the department to do it.
'They want SAFA to do it. So the R90 million is there, we went to Spain with the help of SuperSport again, we tested VAR. It works 100%.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 minutes ago
- The Citizen
'Take Mofokeng out of Pirates and they'll struggle,'
'You go to Sporting Lisbon and you take out Viktor Gyökeres, who went to Arsenal, and they are struggling,' Cardoso said. Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted that the absence of Lucas Ribeiro has taken some of the sting out of the team's attacking threat, despite their 2-0 win over AmaZulu in a Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night. Ribeiro was also missing from last Saturday's 1-1 league draw away to Chippa United, as well as the 4-0 victory over Richards Bay in the MTN8 quarter-final. It was their first match of the season without last season's top goalscorer in the PSL. ALSO READ: Ouaddou 'disappointed' after Pirates loss to Gallants The midfielder is on the verge of securing a move abroad after a stellar campaign in which he was crowned the 2024/25 PSL Footballer of the Season. The Brazilians might have returned to winning ways against Usuthu, but they were far from their fluent best. Cardoso also had to make do without unsettled defender Khuliso Mudau, who has yet to kick a ball this season amid uncertainty over his future. 'You go to Sporting Lisbon and you take out Viktor Gyökeres, who went to Arsenal, and they are struggling. If you take out Relebohile Mofokeng from Pirates, you will see how they will struggle because they are players that are key in the way that the team creates dynamics,' Cardoso said when asked about Ribeiro's absence. 'The numbers of Lucas speak for him and it's up to us now to find the solutions collectively so that we can overcome what he used to do on the pitch. We are working and developing inside the club. We are looking for players who can reinforce the team and we need to make the right choices and we can't rush.' Although Cardoso expressed confidence in plugging the gap left by Ribeiro, who ended last season with 16 league goals, the outspoken coach admitted he would have preferred the player's imminent departure to have been resolved before the new campaign kicked off. 'I would have liked it to have been handled before the season started but it's not like that because things happened. We are dealing with the situation in the best way,' he added. ALSO READ: Chiefs finally announce Velebayi signing 'The club is very professional and very capable of solving the issues that we have on our hands. The club is not concerned and we know very well where we want to go. I just need to keep working with the team. I will always give my best with whichever players that I have.'
The Citizen
4 minutes ago
- The Citizen
TS Galaxy lose Betway Premiership opener at Mbombela Stadium
TS Galaxy's Betway Premiership campaign got off to a poor start, with a 2-0 defeat to Durban City at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, August 10. Their starting line-up was unchanged from their previous game against Sekhukhune United, as they welcomed the newly promoted Durban City. The Rockets have only won one of their opening matches in this league since their debut in the 2020/21 season. They have drawn three times and lost twice. This was the second league opener TS Galaxy have lost. The Rockets usually score one goal in their opening games, but they have never scored more than two. The team showed resilience, but Durban City's defence held firm. In the fourth minute, goalkeeper Darren Keet denied TS Galaxy's Puso Dithenjane, saving his cross from the left just outside the box. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga School of Excellence crowned Safa U20 Mbombela Stream champions In response, Durban City took a counter attack after Keet passed the ball to Joslin Kamatuka of Durban City, who lost it before he could enter the Rockets' 18-area. In the seventh minute, TS Galaxy built an attack from the back, but Dithenjane's ball was blocked by one of City's defenders. The Rockets' Nhlanhla Mgaga got an opportunity in the box, but because of the position of the ball he could not capitalise on it. City's defenders cleared the ball, which fell to TS Galaxy's Mpho Mvelase, who was tightly marked. In the 18th minute, Siphesihle Maduna of TS Galaxy's ball was saved by Keet when the Rockets attacked once more. Trevor Mokwena of Durban City missed his chance at the goal when his free header went over the post after a cross in the 27th minute. He was alone in the box. The Rockets' striker, Victor Letsoalo, hit the outside net in the 40th minute, leaving the fans wondering how he missed such a promising strike, and a chance to take the lead. In the 42nd minute, the Rockets got a set piece in City's half but Macbeth Mahlangu of TS Galaxy failed to capitalise. City's defence cleared the ball out of play, resulting in a corner kick. The game went to half-time with the scoreboard standing at 0-0. Durban City opened the second half with a goal from Samkelo Maseko in the 46th minute, after the ball played from the centre of the field. TS Galaxy dominated possession in the second half. In the 57th minute, Durban City created another opportunity to extend their lead but Kamatuka's kick was saved by Ira Tapé. Haashim Domingo's cross from the corner spot gave Mfanafuthi Mkhize of Durban City a chance to extend City's lead. ALSO READ: TS Galaxy's winning streak ends as Marumo Gallants win at Mbombela Stadium TS Galaxy continued looking for a comeback goal, but City's defence fiercely protected their lead. The match ended 2-0. TS Galaxy are at the bottom of the league after one match, while Durban City claimed the second spot. TS Galaxy will face Sekhukhune United on Wednesday, August 13, while Durban City will play Chippa United.
TimesLIVE
34 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns coach Cardoso wants behind-the-scenes issues sorted out
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso wants behind-the-scenes issues with some players to be resolved as soon as possible. The Brazilians, who started the campaign with wins over Richards Bay and AmaZulu and a draw with Chippa United, are dealing with speculation about the future of defender Khuliso Mudau and attacker Lucas Ribeiro. Mudau and Ribeiro did not feature against Richards Bay, AmaZulu and Chippa United for reasons that have not been clarified and it remains to be seen if they will play for the club again. There was an issue with attacker Peter Shalulile, but he is back with the team and came on as a late substitute in the 2-0 Betway Premiership win against AmaZulu on Tuesday at Loftus and he looks likely to stay with the club this season. Speaking after the AmaZulu win, Cardoso said the club is dealing with unresolved issues so they can focus on the business of the league where matches are coming in quick succession. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso wants issues behind the scenes sorted out ASAP. WATCH full press conference ➡️➡️➡️ — Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 13, 2025 'I would like them to be [resolved] as quick as possible,' said Cardoso. 'It would have been better if they were handled before the start of the season, but things happened after that. We are dealing with the situation in the best possible way. 'The club is professional and capable to solve issues we have. The club is not about sales [selling players] because we know where we want to go. I need to continue working with the team and I will always give my best with the players I have.' Cardoso still has senior players such as Ronwen Williams, Denis Onyango, Aubrey Modiba, Mosa Lebusa, Grant Kekana, Marcelo Allende, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Tashreeq Matthews and Shalulile. 'The players in the locker room will always fight for the badge on the shirt. That is what we are going to do and I believe that's the correct way to handle the situation. 'In a club such as Sundowns, that exposes players to the level of international football at the Fifa Club World Cup and they did well, it is normal there will be [issues]. 'But we cannot allow those things to happen the way they should not. We are not on sales [selling players], but people must respect the value of what we have in the team.' With persistent questions about Ribeiro and Mudau, Cardoso said it is not an easy situation to manage. 'It's not easy to deal with what's happening and not be concerned about it or believe it does not have an effect on the team. We would be naive to think things can happen and the players don't relate to those things. 'They are friends in the locker room, they speak, but it is possible to keep a strong mentality and the will to win every match despite those things happening. 'The market is always tough and after the Fifa Club World Cup, where the team performed at the level they did, there is always instability because of proposals that arrive. 'It is like that, but the club is professional. The maturity we find in the club will allow the players to understand things are being handled in the right way. 'It is taking time and you need time to solve them, but in time they will be solved. Until then it is important that we win as many games as possible so that when players come back or we reinforce we take the team to another level.'
