Tupou picked as Oceania ref

Local soccer player and referee Tupou Patia has been selected to officiate at the under 20 women’s soccer tournament in New Zealand this month – the first Cook Islands woman to officiate at an international tournament.

Excellent fitness levels were a major factor in her selection as an official at the Oceania Football Confederation under 20 women’s championships scheduled to be held between January 21 and 25.

Tupou will be Cook Islands’ lone official representative at the event which will be held at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium and involves teams from the Cook Islands, American Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand as hosts and favorites to win.

The teams from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and New Zealand will be competing for a place at the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this July.

“This is an exciting opportunity and experience for me to be selected to officiate at this under 20 qualifying tournament,” said Tupou.

Tupou left for New Zealand with the Cooks under 20 women’s team on Sunday.

CIFA believes that this tournament will be great exposure and development for up and coming referees such as Tupou.

This is an achievement by Tupou due to her commitment to the sport of football. She has also represented the country in international tournaments as a player.