Football Federation SA is pleased to announce it will have three South Australian Match Officials at the National Junior Championships in Canberra next week.

Derryth Lloyd and Isabella Blaess have been selected as Match Officials while former FIFA Assistant Referee Airlie Keen has been appointed as Coach.

The National Junior Championships is a tournament which showcases the country’s most promising 13-year-olds and kicks off on Wednesday April 18, and finishes on Friday April 20.

It is being held at the Hawker Football Centre which boasts a FIFA Two-Star artificial surface.

Both Lloyd and Blaess, who officiate in Noarlunga and Districts, were excited with their appointments.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to stay at the AIS and experience what it is like to travel interstate as a referee,” said Blaess. 

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I have been given and I am determined to show the national coaches my refereeing ability. This is my first of many steps towards my ultimate goal of becoming a FIFA accredited referee and one day attending the World Cup or the Olympic Games.”

”I’m very excited and feel privileged to be attending the tournament. I’m looking forward to the whole experience to working with the coaches and learning new things,” said Lloyd.

FFSA Referee Recruitment and Development Officer Nathan Magill admitted he was delighted with SA’s representation at the tournament.

“It is great to see Football Federation SA well represented at a National Tournament,” he said.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for Derryth and Isabella to gain  valuable experience officiating at a national tournament in front of FFA coaching staff.”