Culture at the heart of Tahiti’s recent beach soccer youth tournaments

The Fédération Tahitienne De Football (FTF) hosted youth beach soccer tournaments through April at Paofai Park, with participation and culture at the core.

Over 350 boys and girls across three age-grades (U-11, U-15 and U-18) took Parton the field, but a general knowledge quiz on Tahitian culture and football determined the overall winners.

The quiz included raising awareness around life on and off the field, laws of the game and fair play.

Nine clubs were involved such as AS Tefana, AS Pirae, AS Mataiea, AS Venus, AS Pueu, AS Punaruu, AS Taiarapu FC and AS Arue.

AS Tefana won both of the U-11 and U-15 grades, while AS Pirae took out the U-18 category.

Tahiti’s 11-aside national women’s team coach Gwendoline Fournier said she was grateful for the Federation staging an opportunity like this for youth.

“Events like this give us a chance to diversify football and provide kids with different options,” Fournier said.

“Tiki Toa (Tahiti men’s beach soccer team) have set the platform for beach soccer, and it is essential to develop the game with our young people as they are our future.”