The tournament is set to be held in Tahiti and the Tiki Toa, as the side is affectionately known, will qualify automatically as hosts.
The off-field planning for the event by the Local Organising Committee is already well underway but there is much work to be done on the sands and Zaveroni is likely to be at the centre of that.
The 35-year-old has competed in the last three OFC Beach Soccer Championships and is the second-highest scorer in the tournament’s history with 17 goals. Solomon Islands star James Naka is first on the list with 29 strikes and has also netted 14 times in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups against sides such as Uruguay and Portugal.
Despite his advancing years, Zaveroni is still an important member of the Tiki Toa and will be expected to provide much of the attacking thrust for the hosts when they take part in the OFC Beach Soccer Championship on the home sands of Papeete this week.
But it is not just as a player that Zaveroni has a part to play. He has successfully completed two FIFA beach soccer coaching courses in recent years – one in Fiji in 2008 and the other last year in his own country – and his knowledge and experience is sure to be tapped into by Tahiti coach Stephen Lefoc.
Zaveroni got the chance to learn from one of the best in the business during last year’s course, which was conducted by FIFA instructor Angelo Schirinzi. Player-coach Schirinzi led Switzerland to a runners-up placing at the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2009.
While he is particularly skilled at the beach version of the world’s most popular sport, Zaveroni also plays 11-a-side for the AS Central Sport club. He can also list stints at AS PTT (1995-2001), AS Pirae (2002-2007 and 2009-2010) and l’AS TAC (2007-2009) on his comprehensive CV.
He captained the Tahiti national team during its last Pacific Games campaign in Samoa in 2007.
Football is Zaveroni’s main passion in life but he also dedicates much of his spare time to surfing. He is so commited to this pursuit that he founded the Rautirare Surf Club in Mataiea, a small town in the south of Tahiti, in 1999. He remains president of the club, which now boasts more than one hundred members.
One of the most famous members is Michel Bourez, a Tahitian professional surfer who currently sits at 11th in the world rankings.
Zaveroni is always keen to help improve the lives of other people and this philanthropic nature was evident when he established a non-profit gardening company called Tamarii Mataeinaa. The business employs ten young workers and all profits are re-invested and used for such activities as the purchasing of new equipment and materials.
Zaveroni will be in action for the first time at this week’s OFC Beach Soccer Championship when Tahiti face Fiji on Thursday from 12.30am local time.