Leading the big names is Solomon Islander James Naka who has scored an impressive 17 goals in four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaigns and a staggering 29 goals in three OFC Beach Soccer Championships – 12 more than his nearest rival Teva Zaveroni, who will feature for Tahiti next week.
The four-team tournament, taking place at Jardin de Paofai in Papeete from 22-26 February, will act as the OFC qualifier for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, set to take place in Ravenna, Italy during September.
Solomon Islands talisman Naka will provide plenty of firepower for the favourites while fellow veteran Gideon Omokirio leads the defensive line. Both have played for the ‘Bilikiki’ in four consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups along with 2011 squad members Eddie Ngaitin and Fred Hale.
Tahiti captain Zaveroni, 35, will be one to watch for the home fans while strike partner Raimana Li Fung Kuee is the only member of the squad to have appeared in all three of the previous OFC Beach Soccer Championships since the competition began in 2006.
For Vanuatu, 27-year-old Chikau Mansale could be on track to pick up his fourth consecutive Golden Glove Award for best goalkeeper of the tournament while Francois Sakama, Etienne Mermer and player-coach Richard Iwai lead the attack.
Fiji meanwhile have named a relatively inexperienced squad with just three players Sandeep Nair, Shalendra Buisena and Benaminio Mateinaqara having played in the country’s only other appearance at the Oceania qualifiers in 2009.
With the region’s top players set to showcase their talents, OFC President David Chung says the future looks bright for beach soccer.
“Oceania has the potential to become a world force in beach soccer,” says President Chung. “Already the Solomon Islands have put the region on the map with outstanding performances at the last four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. Genuine stars have emerged including players like James Naka.
“And we are bound to see more emerging talent with the steady rise of the game in this part of the world, particularly with unique regional factors such as the wide accessibility to beaches and year-round tropical climate.”
President Chung says the 5-a-side form of the game is set to receive an even bigger boost when Tahiti becomes the first Pacific Island nation to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2013.
For the full squad lists click here
For the full match schedule click here