The tropical island paradise of Fiji may not seem a conventional starting point for an international referee with a FIFA World Cup Final in
their sights – but this is where Finau Vulivuli bases her pursuit of that universal dream.
After representing her country in FIFA World Cup qualifying tournaments, and the 2003 South Pacific Games (SPG), the Savusavu native decided
she yearned for an even greater footballing stage – she wanted not to take on the world – but to ensure it played by the rules.
Suffering without a challenge due to the harsh reality that not enough female players exist on her island to create a single practicable
team, let alone competition, she attended a refereeing seminar to gauge popular opinion of arranging a women’s club tournament on her home island.
Unbeknownst to the then 22 year-old, this would be the start of an already impressive refereeing CV that has seen her officiate in
Fijian national men’s competitions, and the Oceania Under 20 Championships – her career highlight to date.
On the eve of the first football matches of the South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007, Vulivuli and her colleagues attended mandatory fitness tests
in the hope their individual and collective preparation has reached the standard required to feature in the tournament.
The Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Playing Fields hosted the rigorous fitness testing, conducted upon SPG officials led by OFC/FIFA referee
assessors Massimo Reveino and Chandra Segran.
The significance of this pre-tournament exercise can not be underestimated with expulsion from the tournament instantaneous. Those who do not meet required standards are immediately sent home – at
their own cost – in an effort to emphasise the prestige and professionalism demanded of officials at FIFA/OFC tournaments.
OFC’s officials have distinguished themselves at FIFA events in recent times with Peter O’Leary (NZL), Brent Best (NZL) and Mihat Chilia (VAN) delivering good
performances at the FIFA U-20 World Cup – Canada 2007 and Rakesh Varman (FIJ), Andrew Achari (FIJ) and Mathew Taro (SOL) (above)all passing muster at the FIFA U-17 World Cup – Korea
2007.
As of yet, OFC has not sent a female official to the finals of a FIFA world event since the departure of Australia to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
There remains a trail to be blazed and Vulivuli looks likely to be OFC’s next likely candidate if she can continue her impressive displays.
In passing the tests, which most SPG athletes would prefer to avoid, Vulivuli has over 40 fixtures to look forward to over the next two weeks
– and will eagerly await news of her appointments, undoubtedly along with the progress of her home nation.
The South Pacific Games Women’s Football tournament opens on Saturday 25 August, 2007, with Vulivuli’s former team Fiji taking on the
Solomon Islands (1500hrs GMT-13), at the same time as American Samoa makes its women’s SPG debut against the might of Papua New Guinea.