Photo Credit: PNGFA| Beach Soccer on Fisherman Island in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Tonga Esira beams like a kid in a candy store as he discusses his country’s arrival on the OFC Beach Soccer scene.
Oceania’s most populous country is embracing the exhilarating sport for the first time, and has joined defending champions Tahiti, Fiji and hosts Solomon Islands in Honiara for the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup.
The winner of this week’s tournament will represent Oceania at next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles.
It’s a remarkable achievement for Papua New Guinea to be in Honiara with Beach Soccer only really starting in the country early last year on Fisherman Island, which lies off the coast of Port Moresby.
The 12 strong squad all hail from the Moukele Football Association on Fisherman Island with coach Babob Labong also doubles as the players 11 aside coach.
Despite its infancy in PNG, the sport has swiftly gained traction, with regular competitions and leagues emerging.
“There are six teams in the senior men’s competition, and we also have U-12, U-14 both male and female teams,” Esira said.
Matches are played on the soft sand right next to the water. The local islanders dug a pitch themselves and filled it up with fine sand from close to the beach.” Esira added.
The Papua New Guinea squad is relatively youthful, with forward Goiravana Kala celebrating his 17th birthday during the tournament. Only goalkeeper and captain Kopi Samuel has experience playing at national league level in football. For some of the squad the short two-hour flight from Port Moresby to Honiara was the first time they had stepped foot on a plane.
Esira’s pride in his team’s journey is palpable, having witnessed their dedication and progress firsthand over the past year.
But he is under no illusions as to the challenge Papua New Guinea will face being the ‘new kid on the block.’
And he is urging the passionate Papua New Guinea public to be patient, acknowledging his country’s side will be massive underdogs, especially against Tahiti’s Tiki Toa who have played in two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals (2015 and 2017).
“Our players have watched how the opponents play, and we have been learning from them and trying to implement things in training, trying to come up to the level where they can compete with these big teams, especially Tahiti and Solomon Islands,” Esira said.
Tuesday’s opening match against Fiji will be the first time Papua New Guinea has played an international match, and it promises to be a momentous occasion.
“I am very proud, and I am happy that they have committed themselves to really focus on the tournament. Our President (John Kapi Natto) is committed to Beach Soccer’s development,” Esira added.
The players who play 11 aside football on Saturday’s, play their Beach Soccer matches on Thursday back home, but they have focused on Beach Soccer exclusively for almost two months now.
Several high-profile Papua New Guinea footballers enquired about being part of the team for the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup. Esira grins as he explains none of them had experience playing Beach Soccer.
“We are giving the boys who have been playing Beach Soccer for the past year the opportunity and are focusing on what we are here for, learning and gaining experience.”
For now, the sport is played exclusively on Fisherman Island. Esira spends his weekend’s taking the 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland to work with the players.
He is committed to seeing the sport expand to the mainland over time. With plans for grassroots programs and expanded competitions, Esira envisages a day when Papua New Guinea’s Beach Soccer teams rival the best in Oceania.
“I have just returned from Bougainville raising awareness for Futsal and Beach Soccer. They are interested in running Beach Soccer in Bougainville. Other areas of the country have requested me to go there too.
“Going forward, I am really looking forward to developing Beach Soccer in PNG, and seeing PNG take part in all the OFC Nations Cups. Because we have beaches everywhere, and we have, talents that usually play, especially on the beach.”
The team’s goals this week are relatively modest.
“If we get a draw, if we get some goals, we just want to make sure, we start with at least two or three goals. There is plenty of potential, most of them are young players.