The Solomon Islands Bilikiki Boys have recorded a jaw-dropping 5-2 upset victory in their opening fixture at the Beach Soccer World Cup Rio de Janeiro 2006.

Completely unknown prior to the start of the tournament – Solomon Islands Bilikiki have captured the imagination of the football world with a victory that places them just one match away from a quarter final spot.

Cameroon – who sported a raft of high profile names including former World Cup hero Joseph-Antoine Bell – were no match for the Solomon Islands and in-form striker James Naka. In a frenzied first half it was Naka who gave his team the lead when he chipped the ball over the advancing keeper. Gideon Omokirio added Solomon Islands second goal before Naka rattled home a further three goals.

Cameroon struck back late in the match with goals to Etienne Ngiladjoe and Benoit Eyoum.

Solomon Islands assistant coach, Vivian Wickham, was understandably ecstatic with the result and performance, “This feels awesome! Cameroon had so many high profile players we didn’t know which way to look at first. But when the game started, we relaxed more and the crowd were right behind us, singing our names. It is incredible because it is only the second time many of us have been outside of our country.”

OFC President, Reynald Temarii, met with the Bilikiki prior to kick-off to offer his encouragement and Wickham said it gave the team a huge lift.

“Meeting Reynald Temarii was a highlight for us because we knew we had to play well for the Oceania Football Confederation as well as the people back home. It was also nice to see a face in the crowd from the South Pacific.”

Media interest in the Solomon Islands Bilikiki Boys is now gone into over-drive in Brazil. “Prior to the game everybody was asking us, “Where on earth is the Solomon Islands?! They all know where Italy is; they all know where Bahrain is – I don’t think they even knew there was a country called the Solomon Islands!”

The Solomon Islands will land back to earth with a bump when they face Uruguay on Saturday 4th November, 2006, at 12:20pm local time. Uruguay gave Beach Soccer giants, Portugal, a tough match losing narrowly 5-4.

“The Uruguay vs. Portugal match was a real slugfest, so we will have to have a look at their game closely and work on a few things before Saturday’s match. We need to put our result into context and enjoy the result but not get carried away”, Wickham said.

The Solomon Islands Bilikiki Boys emerged from the match has one injury concern ahead of the Uruguay match.

Former Nelson Suburbs central defender, Gideon Omokirio, was injured in the process of scoring the team’s second goal but looks likely to be 100% for the next game.

The team will be boosted further by the arrival of Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Job Dudley Tausinga, SIFF General Secretary Eddie Ngava, and Abraham Eke, patron of the Solomon Islands Bilikiki Boys.

Viv Wickham said the victory would have a big effect on easing political instability and ethnic tensions back home.

“The people back home love football and this win will unify everybody – it’s a dream come true for us. We will enjoy this result, but we will shower, rest, sleep, sing our songs and be happy.”