A total of 20 referees from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar have successfully completed a five-day intensive training on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
The training, held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, officially concluded today, April 18, 2025, marking the second phase of a six-module program aimed at enhancing officiating standards in Tanzanian football.
The program is part of the Tanzania Football Federation’s (TFF) ongoing efforts to build a pool of highly skilled referees proficient in using the modern VAR system. The initiative is supported by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Speaking during the official closing ceremony, Boniface Wambura TFF’s Director of Legal Affairs, Information, and Marketing, and the chief coordinator of the training commended the participants for their commitment.
He urged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge to improve decision-making on the field and contribute to the development of Tanzanian football.
“This training is a crucial part of our strategy to modernize officiating in the country,” Wambura said. “Through VAR, we aim to reduce complaints about refereeing decisions and raise the overall standard of our leagues and tournaments.”
He added that TFF will continue to invest in VAR by training more referees and developing local instructors to sustain the program.
“We have started with this group of 20 referees, but our goal is to identify and nurture experts among them who can eventually serve as trainers. This will allow us to expand the number of qualified officials who can effectively use VAR technology,” he said.
The participating referees expressed their appreciation for the training and noted its value in improving accuracy—particularly in handling controversial or complex match situations.
The VAR training marks a key step in the country’s preparations to introduce the technology in the NBC Premier League and other major competitions held within Tanzania.
