Wanting to become a FIFA women’s official

WANTING Yagum has become the first assistant female referee to be selected for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan next month.
Yagum, a single mother of two in her late 30s, from Markham, Morobe, was selected after passing tests conducted by the world soccer governing body recently.
The former Bara FC and LFA representative never looked back when she decided to exchange her boots for a whistle.
She started with Lae Football Association competition and has officiated in all soccer tournaments in Morobe, and was identified as a female referee with potential by PNGFA.
When contacted yesterday about her selection, the former international player said she was excited and was looking forward to the challenge.
“I am very, very happy as this is my first time to attend a FIFA World Cup tournament,” she said
With her keen interest, she decided to concentrate on referee which took her around the country and also on the regional front.
After first representing the country at the 1994 Oceania Cup in Port Moresby, Yagum continued to feature in national teams until a 2003 tour of Canberra in 2003.
After 13 years as a national representative, she could not find a more satisfying way of giving something back to her sport than refereeing.
She said she was encouraged by other senior male referees to give something back as a  coach or referee.
Yagum will be accompanied by her counterpart from New Zealand, representing the Oceania region during the championships in Eastern Europe.
In 2006, her dream was realised when she was recommended by the PNGFA and invited by Oceania Football Confederation to be part of the 2006 OFC women’s championships in Samoa.
From OFC-hosted women’s tournaments and now moving up  another level up to officiate in a world tournament, the 2012 FIFA U17 championships, is a great boost for the Morobean.
She was also appointed for the 2010 OFC Women’s Nations Cup championships in New Zealand. 
she has officiated in several OFC junior women’s tournaments staged in New Zealand, and the most recent was the Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.