Englishman James Pamment has agreed to help New Zealand Soccer navigate the uncharted “Road to Rio de Janeiro” and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Pamment has been appointed coach of the first New Zealand team eyeing FIFA’s newest World Cup on Brazil’s famous Copacabana in early November.
NZ Soccer are making their first play in the world’s fastest growing beach-based sport by sanctioning the inaugural New Zealand Community Trust Beach Soccer Championship in Mt Maunganui on Friday and Saturday.
Pamment and NZ Soccer High Performance Manager Ricki Herbert will select a 10-man squad from the two-day, six-team nationals to contest July’s Oceania Championship in Tahiti.
New Zealand would then have to beat Tahiti, Vanuatu and reigning Oceania champions Solomon Islands on Papetee’s Mahina Beach to qualify for the World Cup.
Pamment is hurriedly attempting to arm himself with beach soccer resources as New Zealand attempt to get up to speed internationally.
Story courtesy NZS Media…