53 top match officials, referee trainers, assessors, and administrators from across Oceania have gathered in Honiara for a three-day Elite Refereeing Seminar, marking a significant step in the region’s referee development.
The seminar, led by OFC and FIFA, is being hosted by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and comes just days before the OFC Men’s Champions League 2025 kicks-off.
Kevin Stoltenkamp, Head of Refereeing at OFC, emphasised the importance of the seminar in fostering relationships between match officials and those who work behind the scenes. “This seminar is crucial as it allows match officials to connect with the people who support their journey from behind the scenes,” Stoltenkamp said.
“It is also a platform to celebrate our successes, including the historic participation of female referees in the Men’s Champions League 2025 – Qualifying earlier this year in Cook Islands.”
The seminar also recognises the achievements of referees who have recently represented OFC in international events, including tournaments in Argentina and the Commonwealth Seminar. By bringing together both FIFA-accredited officials and those aspiring to earn their badges, the workshop serves as an opportunity for knowledge sharing and inspiration.
Stoltenkamp hopes the seminar will instil confidence in Oceania’s referees. “Our referees are highly capable, but when they step into environments with officials from other confederations, they sometimes lose confidence,” he noted.
“This event is about reinforcing their self-belief and showing them that they belong at the highest level.”
SIFF President Donald Marehare opened the seminar and expressed his delight at hosting the event, particularly as it is the first time it has been held outside Auckland, New Zealand. “For us, this is a huge honour,” Marehare said.
“It is also a timely seminar as the OFC Men’s Champions League is just around the corner. Hosting this event demonstrates our commitment to developing refereeing standards in our country.”
Marehare sees the seminar as an invaluable opportunity for local referees and aspiring officials in Solomon Islands to learn from their regional counterparts.
“One of our goals is to increase the number of FIFA and OFC-qualified referees within the next few years. This seminar provides the perfect environment to support that vision.” Marehare said.