OFC Beach Soccer New Zealand 2007 – Teams

NEW ZEALAND

Very rarely does New Zealand appear at an OFC tournament without the tag of favourites hanging over them but that is the case this time as Kiwi football takes to the sand in pursuit of Beach Soccer glory.

New coach James Pamment (pictured above) will have a challenge ahead of him as New Zealand plays catch-up with the rest of OFC in this form of the game.

Pamment – who has extensive coaching experience in the New Zealand Football Championship with Waikato FC – used the inaugural New Zealand Beach Soccer Championship held in Mount Maunganui to run the rule of potential candidates for New Zealand’s squad. Many of the current squad have NZFC experience and confidence will be high despite the relative lack of experience at this form of the game.

THE SQUAD

Mitchell O’BRIEN, Simon EADDY, Joel MATHEWS, David SAMSON, Dean JOHNSTON, Mikael MUNDAY, Stuart HOGG, Nathan FRY, Michael GWYTHER, Daniel ELLENSOHN, Sam JASPER, Anthony HAGAN

COACH: James PAMMENT

MANAGER: Paul DWIGHT

TAHITI

Last year’s host nation Tahiti were the tournament’s ‘hard luck’ story after they lost out on a finals berth following two single goal defeats to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The exciting talents of Teva Izal and Raimana Lee Fung Kuee were too hot for opposition defences to handle as Izal (11 goals) and Lee Fung Kuee (6 goals) plundered goals almost at will.

However, despite their best efforts, Tahiti were unable to prevent Vanuatu and Solomon Islands from scoring at critical moments during pool play that led to their elimination. Team success evaded Tahiti’s grasp but Teva Izal was recognised as Golden Shoe winner and OFC Player of the Tournament. T

ahiti arrive at the Vector Arena as potential dark horses of this competition and their title hopes will depend on how well they adapt to the unique indoor environment that awaits them.

THE SQUAD

Mikael ROCHE, Gilbert MERIEL, Raimana LI FUNG KUEE, Teiva IZAL, Thierry QAEZA, Angelo TCHEN, Rino MORETTA, Tamatoa PAHIO, Billy MATAITA, Moehau TAIE

COACH: Sebastien LABAYEN

MANAGER: Eugene HAERERAAROA

VANUATU

OFC Beach Soccer Championship runners-up Vanuatu will be out to atone for the heartbreaking 2-6 final defeat against Solomon Islands on Temae Beach last year. Strikers Jean Maleb and Seule Soromon amassed a 13 goal haul for their country but it wasn’t enough to take Vanuatu to Brazil as the sapping sand and injury toll affected the preparations for the final. One aspect of Vanuatu’s play not in question is their technical ability which saw them score some of last year’s most spectacular and acrobatic goals. Mousa Sam, Seimata Chilia and Fenedy Masauvakalo helped supplement an awesome attacking combination that all opponents struggled to cope with in pool play.

THE SQUAD:

Chickau MANSALE, Yanick MERKA,Dereck MALAS, Ken MASAUVAKALO, Richard IWAI, Moise POIDA, Seule SOROMON, Simon Moussa SAM, Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, Jean-Emmanuel MAELB

COACH: Greg BROWN

ASSISTANT: Wilson AUGUST

MANAGER: Marcellino BARTHELEMY

DOCTOR: Loretta WILLIAMS

SOLOMON ISLANDS – BILIKIKI BOYS

Defending OFC Champions Solomon Islands bring the added experience of last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup adventure to the Vector Arena. Striker James Naka will be the dangerman for the Bilikiki Boys after he scored a raft of goals in the OFC O-League for Marist FC alongside fellow hitman Joe Luwi.

Both Luwi and Naka are as deadly on sand as they are playing on a grass football pitch and goalkeepers and defenders will be well advised to be on guard. Last year’s best player for the Bilikiki Boys was Henry Koto who scored eight goals with Richard Anisua chiming in with seven goals.

How well the Solomon Islands adapt to the tag of favourites will determine what sort of performance fans witness at OFC Beach Soccer Championship – New Zealand 2007.

THE SQUAD

Fred HALE, John MORGAN, Gideon OMOKIRIO, Eddie NGAITINI, Richar
d ANISUA, Samson TAKAYAMA, Henry KOTO, Joe LUWI, Benjamin MELA, James NAKA

COACH: Airton ANDRIOLI

MANAGER: Reuben OIMAE