A fisherman by trade, Taiarui has quickly become known for his attributes on a beach soccer pitch – as an integral member of the Tiki Toa which finished fourth in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Most recently, it was his debut in the OFC Champions League with Tahiti side AS Pirae last month which had him in the headlines.
The 27-year-old was one of the key figures in a squad littered with fellow Beach Soccer internationals, and Tairaui says joining the team and taking part in the region’s premier club competition was a chance he couldn’t pass up.
“I was incredibly surprised to be included by the club. For me it was an experience of top level football on grass, as well as my first time participating in this competition,” Taiarui says.
“It went well, I was quickly integrated into the group, like in a family. Most of them are Tiki Toas so it was a little like getting acquainted with them again, and it’s always a pleasure to play with friends like these.”
Having world class experience, albeit in a completely different footballing discipline, taking part in the competition could have been a cinch for Taiarui and his teammates. But the rising star says it was a noticeable step up a level.
“Our first match was very difficult, it’s always like that, and after that it started coming on its own,” Taiarui says..
“The Solomon Islanders were incredibly strong, quick and tricky with their feet. Fortunately we knew how to manage the match. The second match was much easier, the Samoans weren’t prepared, weren’t ready,” he continues.
“Tactically we should have ‘lost’ the last match so that Auckland City, the best team in the tournament, were eliminated. But as soon as we started playing we wanted to give our all against the team from New Zealand [Waitakere United], they are leading football in Oceania.”
He says playing that match saw them surpass their expectations and with a high standard of football they beat the 2013 OFC Champions League runners-up 3-1 to knock them out of the competition.
The victory also set AS Pirae up for a semi-final showdown with the defending champions. The home and away nature proved too much for the Tahitians who were downed 3-0 in Auckland, and came back at home to win 2-1, but lost out 4-2 on aggregate to the New Zealand champions.
Disappointed, obviously, not to be progressing further with his adopted club side – on the upside it provides a bit of time for Taiarui to get back out on the open water before he heads off on his next adventure.
“Since I was young fishing has been a passion. After two years fishing with a friend I found that I really enjoyed it. I wanted to get my own boat five years ago and it has become my trade and my passion,” he expounds.
“When I’m fishing I’m happy, more so than when I’m on land. So I’m making the most of it before I leve for Switzerland. Four months without fishing is hard!”
When he mentions Switzerland, Taiarui is talking about rejoining his Tiki Toa head coach Angelo Schirinzi to take part in the Swiss Beach Soccer Championship.
It’s a ritual he has continued over the past three years, and something he says has been hugely beneficial to his constant development on the sand.
“Over there I’m semi-pro, I’m paid to play. There are already teams that want me to play with them in Italy, in Russia, in Spain, in Switzerland. It’s Angelo Schirinzi who has everything planned, who has put everything in place and encouraged the requests from teams for my services.
“This will be the fourth year that I play in the Swiss Championship, it’s always a pleasure and always a learning opportunity.”
Taiarui isn’t he only Tiki Toa who will soon depart Tahiti shores, saying the entire team will head offshore for a training camp in Switzerland with a smaller group staying on with Taiarui to take part in the Championship.
“We are already putting in place our preparations for next year’s Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal,” he says.
“We are going to take part in a competition in Dubai in October/November, we’ve already participated twice before. It’s our next objective to prepare well for this tournament, but the Oceania qualifiers as well.
“We need to win the qualifiers in February 2015 to qualify for Portugal.”
For more on Tahiti football go to www.ftf.pf

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