Solomon Islands top referee Ben Aukwai has been recently awarded a FIFA badge by the FIFA Referee Committee as they released their accredited match officials for 2022.
Aukwai was nominated by the SIFF after his recent top performances in the 2020 and 2021 Telekom S-League season where he was named the Referee of the year in succession.
He is the new and only FIFA badge holder after former referee George Time was stripped of his badge recently.
Aukwai was over the moon as he finally fulfilled a dream to become an international FIFA badge referee.
“I am so excited to become a FIFA badge referee because this is a dream come true since I started my refereeing in 2013 especially coming from Malaita province,” he said.
The 36-year-old started his refereeing career in 2013 as an assistant referee before moving to the centre based on recommendations from referee assessors.
With his recent achievement, Aukwai said it was not easy to reach the top but he paid tribute to a number of people who helped him along the journey.
“I would like to thank a few people like my mentor Gerald Oiaka who encouraged me to take up referee since the beginning of my career,” Aukwai stated.
“Also not forgetting SIFF referees department, referee colleagues, my family for the support and lastly our heavenly father for his strength and blessings.”
Aukwai officiated at a number of international tournaments most recently the OFC Women’s National Cup 2018 in New Caledonia and OFC Champions League 2019 Group Stage in Vanuatu.
He believes his recent achievement is a step forward to many windows of opportunity on the world stage.
