The host nation kicks off its campaign with a tough encounter against UAE at To’ata Stadium in Papeete, while fellow Oceanians Solomon Islands tackle tournament debutants the Netherlands.
“Both teams have had contrasting preparations. Solomon Islands are going to their fifth Beach Soccer World Cup but they’ve had very little in the way of preparatory matches.
“The qualifiers were only a couple of weeks ago, and apart from that, they have had just the one friendly game with Ukraine,” Toohey told www.oceaniafootball.com. “Meanwhile, Tahiti have had something like 14 games this year against some very good sides. So while Tahiti might seem more ideally placed to do well at the tournament, Solomon Islands still have a lot of experience on their side.”
Expectations are high among fans of the Tiki Toa following wins over Argentina and Australia with some speculating the hosts could face the Bilikiki in a mouthwatering all-Oceanian quarter-final showdown on 25 September.
“That would be incredible and we can only hope for something like this. But we must remember, Tahiti’s group is a very difficult one – they have to take it game by game.
“The UAE are well prepared and have a good history in Beach Soccer, and while Tahiti have had a lot of good quality preparatory games, competition pressure is a different kind of pressure.
“The USA are a confident side and have had a lot of time in camp. Spain have been off the radar in recent times but they are Spain of course, so will be expected to be there or thereabouts near the end,” Toohey said.
Solomon Islands group is no less difficult. Bundled alongside a Dutch side of unknown quantity, an El Salvador team eyeing the knockout rounds and the CONMEBOL champions Argentina, the Bilikiki’s lack of preparation could tell.
“Tahiti defeated the Netherlands in three games at the start of the year, so they may be a good side for the Bilikiki to start with.
“However, El Salvador finished in the top four last time and will be difficult. Argentina are South American champions so Solomon Islands have a huge task ahead and will do very well to advance from the group,” Toohey says.
But beyond the immediate performance of Oceania’s two beach soccer hopes Toohey wonders what the future holds for the sand-based form of football.
“I really hope this tournament will be a catalyst for developing beach soccer in Oceania as I truly believe we can excel at this form of the game.
“To coin a phrase, “our players are born on the sand”, so if we don’t seize this opportuntity to make beach soccer “our game” we will be missing a tremendous opportunity,” Toohey says.
The roadmap toward a bright new future for beach soccer starts when a FIFA/OFC Beach Soccer Seminar is held in Tahiti between 26-28 September.
Toohey says one of the aims of the course is to reinforce the awareness of Beach Soccer and to review the development of the sport in the OFC since 2006.
“Member Associations have focused on elite competition as their starting point so its difficult to develop the game in the long term.
“It’s still very much the same across the Oceania region so it’ll be interesting to see the legacy of Tahiti 2013 in terms of grassroots and youth development,” Toohey says, “along with the development of new facilities.”
“Like with all forms of the game you need to think long term and you need to focus on grassroots and youth level as well. Will these teams be replenished by younger players when the likes of Teva Zaveroni and Samson Takayama retire? What is underneath? We’ll see.”
But as excitement builds toward the big kick-off in Papeete, Toohey pauses to pick two teams who pose the biggest threat to Oceania’s representatives but offers a glimmer of hope for the rest of the field.
“Brazil and Russia are perhaps still the most advanced teams. Russia have made great leaps in their use of set-pieces and the use of the goalkeeper. They have managed to apply a very technical style and have refine the way they play.
“Brazil’s ability to keep the ball in the air, to keep possession for long periods and play with flair and precision always make them one of the favourites also.
“But neither of these teams have played in this part of the world before so we may see this level the competition out a bit,” he says.
“Perhaps we will even see a new champion crowned next week?”
Tahiti opens its campaign with a tough showdown with the UAE on September 19 (local). Solomon Islands face the Netherlands on the same evening.
MATCH DETAILS
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP TAHITI 2013
Group A
September 19, 2013
TAHITI v UAE
Kick-off: 19h00 (local)
Group B
September 19, 2013
NETHERLANDSv SOLOMON ISLANDS
Kick-off: 20h30 (local)

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