Women refs do top job

The inaugural Oceania Under17 Women’s Championship in New Zealand featured 11 of Oceania’s top referees, who had all taken part in elite training and stringent physical testing leading up to the event.

Cook Islands women soccer referees Tupou Patia and Melanie Wilson, along with other referees from Oceania, were taken through a series of theoretical presentations and practical sessions as well as the routine fitness testing conducted before every OFC competition.

Patia and Wilson progressed through their tests and were selected to officiate and assist in last week’s Oceania Under17 Women’s Championship at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium.

The under 17 women’s championship was the first international match for Wilson to officiate as an assistant referee and she looks forward to officiating in more OFC competitions in the near future.

Patia has excelled her potential as a referee and Oceania Football Confederation has given her a second opportunity to officiate, as a referee at an international level within Oceania. Patia also officiated at the Under 20 Women’s Championship that was held in Auckland in January.