The venue for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Beach Soccer Championship – New Zealand 2007 has been moved from Vector Arena to Narrow Neck Beach, Devonport.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the cost of building a temporary sand pitch that met FIFA’s specifications and the risk of causing permanent damage to the Vector Arena floor were strong
reasons to take the tournament to an outdoor facility.

“Vector Arena has at all times been excellent to deal with and I cannot speak more highly of their professionalism and helpfulness during a difficult period of time.

Vector Arena were more than capable of staging a wonderful indoor Beach Soccer event – however, the problem was the risk of damaging the facility after the tournament had ended.

OFC had a difficult decision to make. But I believe we have made the best decision,” Nicholas said.

Narrow Neck Beach was chosen after a meeting between OFC and the North Shore City Council

“North Shore City Council have been tremendous in helping OFC out at short notice and likes the idea that perhaps one day Devonport could become the home of Beach Soccer in the region,” Nicholas
said.

Nicholas said OFC plans to put together a proposal to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2011 or 2012 with New Zealand as a possible addition to the world circuit.

OFC is also running an Invitational Beach Soccer Tournament alongside the main event involving four teams drawn from local communities such as Solomon Islands, Fiji, Africa and Asia.

The Invitational Tournament kicks off on Sunday 8th July.

“The idea is to use Beach Soccer to showcase the laidback, multicultural and easygoing approach to life that we enjoy in the Oceania region. I believe OFC can become a force to be reckoned with in
this form of football,” Nicholas said.

A new draw has been made with the details listed below.

OFC Beach Soccer Championship – New Zealand 2007

SATURDAY 7 JULY

8.30am Solomon Islands v Vanuatu

9.30am New Zealand v Tahiti

2.30pm Tahiti v Vanuatu

3.30pm New Zealand v Solomon Islands

SUNDAY 8 JULY

8.30am Solomon Islands v Tahiti

9.30am New Zealand v Vanuatu

2.30pm Loser v Loser

3.30pm Winner v Winner*

*winner qualifies for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2007

OFC Invitational Beach Soccer Tournament

SUNDAY 8 JULY

11:000am Fiji v Africa

11:40am Solomon Islands v Asia

12:40pm Loser v Loser

1:20pm Winner v Winner

OFC Beach Soccer Championship – New Zealand 2007

Referee Appointments

Teariki Goodwin (Solomon Islands)

Nitesh Naiker – (Fiji)

Danilo Pohaate – (Tahiti)

Michel Boury (Tahiti)

Justin Motukera (Solomon Islands)

Mike Brock (New Zealand)

Jamie Cross (New Zealand)

For further information please contact

Tai Nicholas phone +64 (0) 9 525 8161

General Secretary fax +64 (0) 9 525 8164

Oceania Football Confederation mobile +64 (0) 21 331 164

email [email protected]

David Firisua phone +64 (0) 9 525 8161

Logistics Officer fax +64 (0) 9 525 8164

Oceania Football Confederation mobile +64 (0) 21 111-1476

email [email protected]

Extra Info

OFC BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP – TAHITI 2006

The Solomon Islands created OFC history when they defeated Vanuatu in the final of the inaugural OFC Beach Soccer Championship (FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier – Tahiti 2006), becoming the
first Member Association outside of Australia and New Zealand to qualify for a FIFA world championship.

The purpose-built beach soccer facility at the picturesque Temae Beach on the island of Moorea off Tahiti proved the ideal backdrop for the tournament. Four teams – Cook Islands, Solomon Islands,
Tahiti, Vanuatu – all with little or no formal beach soccer experience put on a display that captured the imagination of the watching public and showcased the enormous potential the new form of the
game has in the Oceania region.

The natural geography of the confederation lends itself to this form of the game, and resource wise it provides an attractive alternative for some of the smaller Member Associations, especially in
terms of required equipment and ground maintenance.

During the tournament a FIFA Futsal and Beach Soccer Seminar was held in order to facilitate development of the sport in Member Associations. The seminar provided a chance to exchange experiences and
best practices between countries and see how FIFA and OFC could provide assistance in establishing or strengthening beach soccer activities.

Perhaps most importantly, the seminar gave the all parties an opportunity to promote and develop a long-term approach to the relatively new form of football.

2006 OFC Beach Soccer Championships

Temae Beach, Moorea, Tahiti

31 August – 3 September 2006

MATCH DAY 1

Vanuatu 9

Solomon Islands 4

Tahiti 8

Cook Islands 1

MATCH DAY 2

Cook Islands 1

Vanuatu 12

Tahiti 2

Solomon Islands 3

MATCH DAY 3

Solomon Islands 13

Cook Islands 0

Tahiti 4

Vanuatu 5

Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA Points

VANUATU 3 3 0 0 26 9 9

SOLOMON ISLANDS 3 2 0 1 20 11 6

TAHITI 3 1 0 2 14 9 3

COOK ISLANDS 3 0 0 3 2 33 0

MATCH DAY 4

3rd/4th PLAYOFF FINAL

Tahiti 12

Cook Islands 4

1st/2nd PLAYOFF FINAL

*Solomon Islands 6

Vanuatu 2

*Solomon Islands qualify for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2006.