Three Pacific women broadcasters are changing the game in women’s football, however not on the pitch but from the commentators box.

In a ground-breaking world first pilot project for women’s sport, Adele Willie and Jennesa Hinge Moli from Vanuatu, and Lavenia Yalovi from Fiji will be bringing the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 from France to the Pacific through live commentary in their indigenous languages on the Oceania Football Confederation website. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 – LIVE Commentary

The group, which was invited to the Women’s World Cup by FIFA are accompanied by Aaron Kearney, an Australian media consultant who designed and delivered their commentary training through Women in New and Sport (WIN) programme funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Trade and Affairs.

WINS is run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development (ABCID) unit and aims to increase the opportunities for women in sports journalism.

Following eight months of preparations the three women will be delivering commentary to ten countries across the Pacific, and to the OFC website.

AdeleWillie says it is perfect timing to be broadcasting football in local languages, during the United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages.

“Jenessa and I will be commentating in Bislama (one of the official languages of Vanuatu), and Lavenia in Fijian, in the year promoting indigenous languages,” she said.

This once in a lifetime opportunity in France follows the success of the WINS activity durinn last November’s OFC Women’s Nations Cup 2018 tournament where these three women were part of a team that made history by producing a live broadcast of the semi-finals by Pacific women in Bislama and Taukei Fijian languages, as well as in English.

FIFA’s Special Pacific Coverage of the 2019 Women’s World Cup France:

GROUP E  

Match 10 – New Zealand v Netherlands

Wednesday, June 12 – 01:00am NZT (UTC +12)

 

Match 21 – Canada v New Zealand

Saturday, June 15 – 07:00am NZT (UTC+12)

 

Match 34 – Cameroon v New Zealand

Thursday, June 20 – 04:00am NZT (UTC+12)

Ends