Football referee trio eye selection

Soccer referees Tupou Patia, Terry Piri and Melanie Wilson will be attending the FIFA Elite Referees course in Auckland, New Zealand from July 14 to 17.

Patia, Piri and Wilson will attend the four day course to be followed by practical sessions where they will be observed and assessed with a view of identifying potential candidates to officiate at the upcoming Pacific Games in New Caledonia and the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as for OFC tournaments from 2012 to 2014.

Fitness training has been a priority for the three referees to ace the upcoming course in Auckland and to impress the selectors.

This is another great opportunity for me and my colleagues Wilson and Piri to prove to the OFC referee selectors that we are determined to be selected to go to the Pacific Games to officiate in the football tournament, says Patia.

According to CIFA referee committee chairman Lai Gukisuva, all three candidates have shown commitment and determination to be selected to officiate not only at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia but at any OFC tournaments that may take place 2012 through to 2014.

I believe that they can make an impression on the OFC selectors, they have worked hard with their fitness training and it is up to them to prove just that.

Tupou Patia, Terry Piri and Melanie Wilson are no strangers to national exposure and are familiar about what is expected from them, both on and off the field during national and international tournaments.

The referees have shared national experiences officiating at the OFC Womens Under 20 tournament in January earlier this year, OFC Womens Under 17 tournament in April last year and the OFC Womens Nations Cup in September 2010.