The trio is the only set of match officials from the Pacific attending the annual event and consists of referee Finau Vulivuli (Fiji), and assistant referees Jacqueline Stephenson (New Zealand) and Lata I Sia Tuifutuna (Tonga).
Taking part in such an event is a privilege for the trio and their selection is a big achievement. Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, the competition is one of the most prestigious women’s football tournaments, alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup and women’s Olympic football.
Twelve teams are competing in this year’s edition – Japan, Finland, USA, Norway, Sweden, China, Iceland, Denmark, Portugal, Chile, Wales and Romania – and the tournament runs from March 2 to 9. The workshop that the Oceania trio are also involved with ran for a week just prior to the start of the competition.
Fiji Football Association chief executive Bob Kumar is pleased with the way in which Vulivuli’s refereeing career is unfolding.
“It is indeed good to see how she is progressing,” he says.
“We are all very proud that she has continuously been selected for the Algarve Cup for the past few years. Finau is very close to getting selected for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup referees panel and the Algarve Cup will be a good chance for her to prove herself.”
The Savusavu-based school teacher and her assistants have plenty of recent experience at international events, having also officiated at the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago last September.