Former Fiji women’s football and Labasa defender Sofi Diyolowai will be making her debut as an Oceania Football Confederation assistant referee next month.
This after she was selected to be part of the referees panel for the 2019 OFC U16 Girl’s Championship in Tahiti.
Speaking to Fiji FA media Diyolowai said she was very excited to make her debut at an international level.
“I am very excited as this will be my first assignment as OFC referee and eagerly lookinh forward for it, “said Diyolowai.
Diyolowai said her three years of handwork paid off.
“I started refereeing in 2016 and I first attended a referee’s course at Seaqaqa Primary School but could not continue then because I was still playing for the national team,”
“After advice from Fiji FA Referees Development Officer Rakesh Varman and my family I took refereeing as my age is catching up and I am already 26 so I switched my career from footballer to referee, “said Diyolowai.
She believes she has brighter future in refereeing.
“I have don the national jumper for so many years but I believe my career in refereeing will take me other parts of the world,”
The Labasa rep said she had a dream of refereeing at FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“My dream is to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and I believe in myself and for sure I know a way will come for me to achieve my dreams, “she said.
Fiji FA referees director Rakesh Varman said it was a great opportunity for Sofi to further her career in refereeing.
“Her appointment for is recognition of the hard work she has put in and she should be congratulated for her achievement.
“What is particularly pleasing from a development perspective is we have three women representing Fiji in the championsip. This is good for the promotion of our female match officials and especially for Torika Delai, Lonisa Dioloni and Diyolowai,”said Varman
“These appointments really highlight that women, and women from this region, can get to the top.
“As much as we encourage them, at the end of the day it comes down to the individual and their sacrifices, “said Varman
