Three New Zealand referees will be among the pool of officials for January’s OFC U-17 Championship in Fiji.
Nick Waldron and Calvin Berg are among the 11 referees chosen by OFC to officiate during the competition which runs from January 11-28.
Gary Sheehan is also named among the 11 officials chosen as assistant referees for the tournament.
Main photo: Referee Nick Waldron … will be in the middle at the OFC U-17 Championship. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
The pool of officials includes two Australian referees, as well as officials drawn from eight Oceania nations.
The assistant referees included two women, Natalia Lumukana and Stephanie Minan, who in 2021 were among five Oceania match officials shortlisted to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The refereeing group is headed up by the experienced David Yareboinen, who was involved in a host of major OFC competitions in 2022 including the Oceania Qualifiers in Qatar, the OFC Champions League and OFC U-19 Championship.
The two finalists at the tournament earn qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.
Referees
Arnold TARI (VAN), Ben AUKWAI (SOL), Calvin BERG (NZL), David YAREBOINEN (PNG) , Kavitesh BEHARI (FIJ), Lachlan KEEVERS (AUS), Mederic LACOUR (NCL), Nick WALDRON (NZL), Timothy DANASKOS (AUS), Timothy NIU (SOL), Veer SINGH (FIJ).
Assistant referees
Adriu NAISIROKI (FIJ), Alan CHENOT (NCL), Folio MOEAKI (TGA), Gareth SHEEHAN (NZL), Hilmon SESE (VAN), Jeremy GARAE (VAN), Jeffrey SOLODIA (SOL), Malaetala SALANOA (SAM), Natalia LUMUKANA (SOL), Noah KUSUNAN (PNG), Stephanie MINAN (PNG).
New Zealand squad
U-17 head coach Martin Bullock has named a 23-strong squad for the tournament.
READ MORE: Click here for New Zealand’s squad to go to the OFC U-17 Championship >>>>
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