UPDATED: 9:15am – Amid Oceania’s historic 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifiers, Fiji Football Association Referee Director Rakesh Varman reached a milestone of his own when he received his first ever appointment as Referee Assessor for a World Cup qualifying match.
After a busy week at the FIFA FUTURO III course in Auckland, New Zealand, Varman and his team of match officials led the first leg of the OFC Stage 3 play-off between New Zealand and Solomon Islands at QBE Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore last Friday.
The former FIFA match official was overjoyed to receive the appointment and is still buzzing after representing his nation at one of the region’s biggest football events.
“I always believe in hard work and giving my best and I am pleased that this has not gone unnoticed,” he said. “I thank FIFA for the opportunity and I believe this the opening to bigger pathways.”
With OFC Stage 3 wrapped up and New Zealand booked in to represent Oceania in the Intercontinental Play-Off, Varman’s focus now is on continuing up the ranks in referee assessing and one day reaching the top tier.
“I hope to continue and maybe if I am consistent all throughout then who knows, someday I might even be assessing matches at the FIFA World Cup.”
-OFC Media
