Mumbai's Mini Lobo is one of three women referees selected to represent India at the upcoming AFC U13 Girls Festival of Football 2010 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

 

The twenty-two year old resident of IC Colony, Borivali who is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree from BPCAS College of Physical Education, Wadala got her big break thanks to recommendations made by the Bombay Referees Association (BRA) where she is enrolled as a referee for the past two years.

 

"This is the first time in the history of the BRA that a female referee has been called-up for an overseas assignment. We are all proud of her for making it this far but it is now up to her to not only represent the association and the city but also the country at this continental event" stated BRA Joint-Secretary Walter Pereira. 

 

Mini also featured in the recently concluded MFL Women’s Football League as a member of the Super Soccer School squad.

 

The Festivals provides early teens with the chance to compete against their peers at national level in a friendly atmosphere apart from enabling the AFC to identify talented coaches and referees for the Project Future programme, where they are given further education.

 

Similar to the ongoing boy’s festival, the first week of the Girls Festival will also be focused on education with coaches and referees taking part in courses to prepare them for the matches towards the second week.

 

During the Festivals, teams play each other in 30-minute and 60-minute matches. There are no finals or league format to determine winners in order to stay true to the events' friendly principles.