Referee Peter O'Leary believes he and fellow World Cup-bound
compatriot Mike Hester stand a good chance of creating some
more New Zealand soccer history by controlling a match in
South Africa.
O'Leary and Hester, both 37, have already achieved a first
for the country by being included among the 30 referees who
will attend the finals tournament in June and July.
From that list, Fifa will announced in May the 24 who will
referee matches, with the six others acting as reserves or
fourth officials.
While assistant referee Paul Smith ran the line for three
matches at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, no New
Zealander has had the whistle for a World Cup finals fixture.
"I think it's pretty good," O'Leary said today of his and
Hester's chances of making the cut.
"We've both worked very, very hard over the three years the
programme has been running and we've got a good chance of
making it."
O'Leary's reaction was one of elation when he found out early
yesterday morning that he would be going to South Africa.
He had been woken up by his young son, whom he put back to
bed, and then decided that he would check the internet,
seeing as he was up anyway.
"I logged on to the website about 5.30am and it was like,
`Woo hoo, yeah!'
"Both Mike and I had been waiting to see if one or both of us
would go and we're very pleased and very excited we've both
been selected."
O'Leary, who teaches at Hillcrest High School in Hamilton,
began refereeing in his early 20s when he discovered that "my
talents were not as a footballer".
He has been to the Fifa Club World Cup over the past three
years and to the past two under-20 World Cup tournaments.
He and Hester have been involved in the A-League and the New
Zealand Football Championship this season.
The 30 referees chosen by Fifa come from 28 countries and
only New Zealand and Mexico have two representatives.
Hester, an Auckland naval officer who became a Fifa referee
in 2007, said his and O'Leary's selection were the result of
a number of factors, including hard work and plenty of
support from all quarters.
Development programmes from New Zealand Football and the
Oceania confederation had played their part, as had NZF
exchange programmes with the likes of the English Premier
League.
Hester's previous appointments have included the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, and last year's Confederations Cup and the under-17
World Cup.
As well as the referees, Fifa also named the assistant
referees they would team with.
O'Leary's trio has fellow New Zealander Brent Best and Mathew
Taro from the Solomon Islands, while Hester has compatriot
Jan Hintz and Tonga's Tevita Makasini.
NZ Football referee development officer Ken Wallace said
having four New Zealand match officials go to South Africa
was a "fantastic result" and an inspiration for those coming
the system.
