SPORTS fanatics have called on women and girls to strive for the best in sports.
This follows the recent reports on Solomon Islands young female football referee, Natalia Lumukana who was selected to officiate in one of the World’s biggest football events, the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They posted on the sports pages on social media Facebook, stating that if someone like Lumukana can do it then other women can also do the same.
They added it is through commitment; discipline and hard work that can help women achieve their goals in sports.
“Lumukana has shown that women can achieve such milestone achievement in sports.
“If she can do it, any woman can do it so keep striving, you will surely get there.
“Commitment, discipline, patience, and hard work are some of the important virtues to uphold to help reach your goals.
“Women have proven to be doing great in sports in the past years, not only in football but other sports as well,” they said.
Solomon Islands female assistant FIFA badged referee Natalia Lumukana has been shortlisted by FIFA to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Ms. Lukumana is amongst five officials from the Oceania region who have been shortlisted by FIFA for the women’s World Cup.
According to OFC making this shortlist represents the beginning of a three-year process to being named on the final officials list for the 2023 tournament, during which shortlisted candidates are required to fulfill a range of FIFA criteria.
Lukumana is joined on the shortlist by OFC compatriots Maria Salamasina (Samoa), Natalia Lumukana (Solomon Islands), and Stephanie Minan (Papua New Guinea), all assistant referees.
Lumukana will amongst some of the women who have raised the country’s flag in sports.
Other women who have made huge achievements in sports are Jenly Wini Tegu in weightlifting, Sharon Firisua in athletics, and Paralympian Jemina Otoa to name a few.
By CARLOS ARUAFU
Newsroom, Honiara
