AUCKLAND – The chances of Mike Hester and Peter O’Leary officiating at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa have been boosted by extra appointments at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
Hester, along with his assistants Jan Hintz (New Zealand) and Tevita Makasina (Tonga) were in charge during Switzerland’s 2-0 upset of Mexico on Sunday and their performance has been rewarded with an appointment to Thursday morning’s clash between Group C leaders Iran and Colombia in Calabar.
Meanwhile, Peter O’Leary, who has barely finished refereeing duty at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt with assistants Brent Best (New Zealand) and Mathew Taro (Solomon Islands), was given the role of fourth official for a pair of matches at the U-17 edition in Kaduna today.
O’Leary has previously refereed at the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada and both of the previous two FIFA Club World Cups in Japan, while Hester has officiated at the Beijing Olympics and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Both Kiwi-led trios are on a FIFA shortlist of 38 vying for selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Story courtesy NZF Media
Photo courtesy FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images