James Naka was unknown to football fans until he represented Solomon Islands in the Oceanian Zone qualifying campaign in Tahiti for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Rio de Janeiro
2006.
The quietly spoken Naka was content to play football in Honiara for Marist FC and, if called upon, the Solomon Islands national team.
Today, Naka is the name on everyone’s lips in Honiara whenever he plays for new club Kossa in the DJ League, the 2008 O-League, the senior Solomon Islands national men’s team or on the sand for the
Bilikiki Boys.
The 22-year-old shot to fame when he scored four goals against African champions Cameroon on the Copacabana inspiring the Bilikiki Boys to a historic 5-2 victory at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer
World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
Naka says the pressure he experienced at that competition means he is no longer fearful of what the future holds on the football pitch.
“We will be ready this time and can enjoy ourselves more because of last year. Brazil is not totally new to our team,” he told FIFA.com. Solomon Islands were united because of how
well we did in Rio in 2006. Our success gave a good feeling to our people.”