Match officials from across Oceania have gathered in Auckland ahead of the historic opening round of the OFC Pro League, marking a significant step forward for refereeing in the region as football enters a fully professional era.
A group of 18 officials have been confirmed for Round 1, which kicks off at Eden Park on Saturday, January 17.
The delegation has arrived in Auckland following years of preparation within an amateur structure. Head of Refereeing Kevin Stoltenkamp said the significance of the appointments is clear.
“I think it’s been seven years in the making and I have to acknowledge the foresight of OFC senior management to support us on this,” Stoltenkamp said.
“For too long, we’ve been involved in an amateur environment whereby the match officials still have to prepare like they’re professionals,” he said. “The Pro League provides officials with their first chance to operate in a professional environment. It’s an opportunity for them to actually put their lifelong dream into action.”
The appointments also carry long term importance for those selected. “It will go down in history,” Stoltenkamp said. “Their names will always be associated with the OFC Pro League.”
FIFA official CK Kawana-Waugh said the group understands the scale of the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with it.
“It’s going to be really awesome to be involved in,” Kawana-Waugh said. “From a refereeing collective point of view, we’re excited for the league to start.”
Officials have spent several days in Auckland aligning standards and finalising preparations. “We’re all here for the next few days to make sure we’re all on the same page and do some final preparations ahead of the league starting,” he said. “The final touches this week will hopefully mean that we hit the ground running as a team as well.”
The introduction of VAR adds another layer of significance to the appointments, providing officials with consistent exposure to elite tools used at FIFA level.
“To be able to use it a lot during the league and then go straight into FIFA tournaments will be a benefit for all of us,” Kawana-Waugh said. “It’s a massive thing for us to become the norm rather than the exception.”
Stoltenkamp says the OFC Pro League also establishes a clear pathway for referees alongside players. “We’ve now have a pathway for people to be professional footballers in our region, but also now professional referees,” he said.
As Round 1 approaches, the appointed officials prepare to take their place in OFC history, carrying the responsibility of setting the standard for professional refereeing in Oceania.
Here are the confirmed Match Officials for Round 1 of the OFC Pro League
Referees
Ben Aukwai (SOL), Calvin Berg (NZL), Kavitesh Behari (FIJ), Torika Delai (FIJ), Cambell Kirk Kawana-Waugh (NZL), Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL), Mederic Lacour (NCL), Cory Mills (NZL), Veer Singh (FIJ), David Yarboinen (PNG)
Assistant Referees
Bertrand Brial (NCL) Allys Clipsham (NZL), Edward Cook (NZL), Jeremy Garae (VAN), Natalia Lumukana (SOL), Folio Moeaki (TGA), Bernard Mutukera (SOL), Maria Salamasina (SAM), Avinesh Narayan (FIJ) Malaetala Salanoa (SAM), Gareth Sheehan (NZL), Jeffery Solodia (SOL), Isaac Trevis (NZL)