A long-time champion of referees and football administrator, Rod Pelosi has received his ONZM at an investiture ceremony.
Pelosi received his Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to football from Dame Helen Winkelmann, GNZM, Her Excellency The Administrator of the Government, at a ceremony in late September.
The award was announced in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Main photo: Pelosi with Dame Helen Winkelmann.
The official citation for the award reads:
“Mr Rod Pelosi held leadership roles with Hawkes Bay Football, Central Regional League and Horowhenua Football Association.
“He chaired the Central Football Federation. He was a New Zealand Football Coaching Committee member.
“He is a New Zealand Football National League Referee Assessor and was a Football Australia A-League Referee Assessor.
“In 2016 he was a Referee Assessor for the FIFA Nations Cup.
“He helped establish an exchange programme for New Zealand Football referees to train alongside Professional Game Match Officials Limited referees in England.
“He chaired the New Zealand Football Referees Committee and currently chairs the Appointments Panel.
“He chaired New Zealand Football Match Officials Incorporated. Mr Pelosi spent three years as a Foundation Trustee for Sport Hawkes Bay and 10 years as a Trustee of Sport Manawatu.”
Pelosi currently serves on the board of Central Football.
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