Tongan FIFA Assistant referee Folio Moeaki has made history by excelling at the prestigious CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) pre-season referees’ camp in Asunción, Paraguay. As part of an exchange program that allows Oceania referees to train alongside top officials from other confederations, Moeaki’s performance stood out among the best in South American football.
The camp, held from January 24 to 27, brought together elite referees from across the globe, including a trio from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). Moeaki was joined by a referee from New Caledonia and another from the Solomon Islands, with all three allocated to the CONMEBOL Seminar. Also attending the seminar was FIFA Instructor and Tonga Football Association (TFA) Head of Referees, Tevita Vea, who participated in the instructor part of the seminar.
The experience proved invaluable for Moeaki, who showcased his expertise by topping both the classroom theory and fitness assessments. His exceptional results did not go unnoticed, as he outperformed over 100 referees, many of whom are top professionals in South America.
Reflecting on his performance, Moeaki expressed his pride in representing Tonga at such a high level. “The first part of my preparation for the seminar was my fitness level, which I was confident I would pass. However, I was especially happy with my result in the theory part, where I scored 90%. I’m just so happy that my results from the seminar brought up our little Kingdom of Tonga,” he shared with the TFA website.
Moeaki’s achievement highlighted the growing quality of refereeing in Tonga. His dedication and discipline positioned him as the best performer among his CONMEBOL counterparts, reinforcing his potential for future FIFA selections at both regional and global competitions.
Tevita Vea expressed his delight at Moeaki’s success, emphasizing the significance of his achievement. “All the referees at the seminar were top professionals, and as expected, none of them failed their fitness or theory tests. But what made me happy is that Folio raised his standard to the expected level, proving why he already holds a FIFA badge,” Vea said.
Beyond personal success, Moeaki’s outstanding performance introduced many participants to Tonga for the first time. “99% of the participants did not know about Tonga or where Tonga is, but when Folio got back his result, topping both fitness and theory tests, they started asking where he’s from and where Tonga is. Most of the participants were introduced to Tonga after that,” Vea added.
Moeaki’s achievements at the CONMEBOL pre-season camp not only enhance his personal prospects but also put Tonga on the map in the global refereeing community. His achievements also caught the attention of local media in Paraguay, where the seminar was held. He was interviewed on national television, with reporters expressing their amazement at how a small country like Tonga could produce such a high-achieving referee on the global stage. His success became a topic of discussion, further showcasing Tonga’s growing presence in international football.
Tonga’s referees continue to strive for excellence in their field, as demonstrated by Moeaki’s outstanding results. This achievement sets a high standard for aspiring referees in Tonga, and it is hoped that more young referees will follow in his footsteps, earning opportunities to participate in top international programs and showcase their skills on the global stage.
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