Fiji official Vulivuli will control the matches the OFC trio are assigned to while Stephenson (New Zealand) and Tuifutuna (Tonga) will provide support as assistant referees.
Vulivuli left her homeland last week to take on the challenge in Germany and Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) referees director Chandra Segran says the departure was a proud moment for both Vulivuli and the country’s football fraternity.
“It is fantastic to see one of our own going to such a major event,” he says. “She has proven herself both locally and internationally.”
Vulivuli joined Tuifutuna in officiating at the recently-concluded Vodafone Fiji FACT men’s tournament at Churchill Park and says that experience proved an important part of the preparations for Germany 2011.
“The Fiji FACT was a good opportunity for myself and Lata before we departed for the World Cup,” she says.
The Savusavu-based schoolteacher has previously taken part in other prestigious events such as the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the Algarve Cup but says Germany 2011 will be beyond compare.
“It is an honour to represent Fiji in Germany. I have officiated at world-class events before but this will be the big one. Top teams like Brazil, England and the United States will be participating. I’m looking forward to this opportunity I’ve been given.”
New Zealand’s Jacqui Stephenson, who has run the line for games at two previous FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups, is excited about stepping up to the bigger stage and hopes it will lead to more females picking up the whistle and flag.
“The World Cup is the pinnacle and, for me, this opportunity is the culmination of four years of hard work, both physically and mentally, and a lot of sacrifice,” the mother-of-two says.
“I’d like to think it might encourage more women to try refereeing knowing there is a pathway to reach big events.”
The involvement of the OFC trio in the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup is the latest positive result of the confederation’s Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP).
OFC places great importance on developing world-class referees and this has been strongly supported by FIFA through its funding of the programme.
Under the supervision of referee development officer Massimo Raveino, referee instructor Neil Poloso and fitness trainer Kader Touati, the programme is helping to create a more organised, professional approach to refereeing in the Pacific.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 runs from June 26 to July 17 and OFC will be represented by New Zealand’s Football Ferns, who face Japan in their opening match on June 27.
For the latest FIFA Women’s World Cup news visit the FIFA tournament page