Refereeing instructor encourages women

SENIOR football refereeing instructor Hillary Ani has urged women to take up the profession after they retire from the game.
He made the comment after seeing only two female referees, Stephanie Minan and Olivier Forova, undertake a week-long basic refresher course last week ahead of the 2021 National Soccer League season.
Ani, who went as far as being a Fifa referee, said there were a lot of former women footballers doing nothing, but they could contribute in terms of refereeing.
He said women’s football was gaining momentum and receiving a lot of prominence on the international stage, and it would be good to see Papua New Guinea women involved in the game.
Minan and Forova were among 24 referees who undertook the course.
At the same time in Port Moresby, Southern Conference coaches took part in a workshop which was conducted by PNG Football Association (PNGFA) coaching instructors Harrison Kamake and Margaret Aka.
The coaches were from Central Dabaris, Hekari United, Tavur, Gulf Komara, Star Mountain and Southern Development Team.
Aka encouraged the coaches to practise what they had learned from the course.
“Coaching, like everything, has processes,” she said.
“Everything starts from the basics before the intermediate and senior levels.
“I encourage all coaches to follow due process to attain their certificates as qualified coaches.”
PNGFA technical director Paul Isorua commended all the participants who took part in the refereeing and coaching courses in Port Moresby.
He thanked facilitators Kamake, Margaret Aka (coaching), Salaiau Sosogan, Job Minan and Hilary Ani (refereeing) for taking time out to impart their knowledge and skills to the participants.
Isorua said Kamake and Aka would conduct grassroots and youth coaching courses for National Capital District Public Servants Soccer Association and Mendi Soccer Association this week.