The week-long workshop was confirmed by FIFA late last year and took place at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in downtown Nuku’alofa.
The participants were taken through the content by FIFA refereeing development senior manager Fernando Tresaco Gracia and FIFA referee instructor Steve Bennett while the course was facilitated by the Oceania Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP) team, which consists of referee development officer Massimo Raveino (Tahiti), instructor Neil Poloso (Solomon Islands) and fitness trainer Kader Touati (France).
Participants from all 11 member associations were in attendance and relished the opportunity to further develop and hone their skills.
“This is a very critical workshop that provides the instructors with techniques of teaching that they must pass on to their respective associations and the referees awaiting them,” Raveino said.
“If you want to build a house, you have to start by forming a solid foundation and that is what we have been doing here. I am sure that these instructors are now strong enough to develop more international level referees from the Oceania region.”
Under the guindance of FIFA instructor Bennett, who controlled many Premier League games in England during his own refereeing career, the 33 participants took part in a wide range of training programmes, techniques and drills.
“I am happy to have been part of this unique training and I believe we, the instructors, now have everything we need to develop and produce more high quality referees,” Robert Sulimae of the Solomon Islands said.
Former referee and rookie instructor Siaosi Polovili, from Tonga, likewise found the Futuro III course to be a valuable experience.
“Everything has been new to me and it’s good to learn such skills and techniques as they will be very important in developing referees in the region,” he said.
Receiving the chance to host the course was somewhat of a coup for the Tonga Football Association and arrived on the back of a memorable period for Tongan match officials.
Tevita Makasini became the first Tongan to officiate at a FIFA World Cup when he took part in the 2010 tournament in South Africa while fellow assistant referee Lataisia Tuifutuna was involved in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany last year.
OFC places high importance on developing world-class match officials and in 2008 referee development received a huge boost thanks to the introduction of the FIFA-funded RAP.
Under the development of the FIFA Development Office, RAP is staffed by Raveino, Poloso and Touati. The programme aims to prepare referees for international competitions, particularly the FIFA World Cup, and to develop referees in each of the member associations through scouting and education.
For more news and information on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to

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