Golden Arrows coach Mngqithi makes VAR call after loss to Chiefs

Lamontville Golden Arrows FC coach Manqoba Mngqithi has called for the long-overdue introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL).

He made the call in a post-match interview after losing 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in a match for the Betway Premiership, the PSL’s top-tier league.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor observed that the stakes have become too high for teams in South Africa to continue losing due to human error that referees are prone to.

“It is not what we were looking for, and worse when we lose from an offside goal. But I don’t want to blame the officials on this one. I think it is high time the league looks at this one differently because, the reality is that the game has become dynamic,” Mngqithi explained.

“It is very difficult for [match] officials to follow. Even ourselves, some of these things, we see very late because we had a chance to look at the video footage, so we can’t expect the referee to be in touch with everything that happens in a game…

The reality is that VAR is more than important because we are not playing for R200; we are playing for R20 million, so it is very important that we up our game as well. As the biggest league in Africa, we need to up our game.”

“The game has become too dynamic.” 😡

Manqoba Mngqithi shares his thoughts after Arrows’ loss at FNB Stadium 🗣️#SSDiski | #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/o7a1cDNw2X

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 20, 2026

Speaking earlier to SuperSport on the pitch side, the Arrows coach warned that the PSL standards will continue to be compromised if VAR is not introduced urgently.

Did Kaizer Chiefs score from an offside position?

“The first thing I can tell you is that the PSL will forever have issues as long as this issue of VAR is not taken care of. The stakes are very high. We work very hard to build our teams, and if you want to see that this goal was an offside just wait for the touch that goes to Silva and already Aden McCarthy, one the other side, is offside,” he said.

“And you lose a game, nobody cares. They say you conceded a goal because you didn’t defend well. But the reality is the league must work very hard because the game itself has become too dynamic and we must respond to that.”

Defender McCarthy’s first goal at senior level confirmed three points for AmaKhosi in Johannesburg. McCarthy stooped down to nod in the final touch after a free kick service from the left wing was headed on goal by Makabi Lilepo in the 39th minute.

Chiefs moved into third place in the standings, 12 points behind leaders Sundowns who are one point ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers have two games in hand. Arrows occupy 10^th place in the 16-member log table.