OFC Beach Soccer Championship 2011

The fourth edition of the OFC Beach Soccer Championship took place in 2011 with the winner also qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ in Italy. The tournament was held at the Jardin de Paofai in Papeete, Tahiti, and was contested between three nations. Three-time runners-up Vanuatu were not able to compete, after Cyclone Atu struck the nation before they were able to board their flight to Tahiti. All three competing nations played each other in a round-robin format, before the top two qualified for the final. Hosts Tahiti were joined by three-time defending champions, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Hat-tricks from Franco Ne’e and Robert Laua carried the Solomon Islands to a 9-4 victory over Fiji in the opening match of the tournament, booking their spot in the final with a match to play. Hosts Tahiti joined them after edging Fiji 6-5 on the second matchday, qualifying for their first ever OFC Beach Soccer Championship final. The Solomon Islands topped the standings with a 4-2 victory over Tahiti in a dress rehearsal for the title decider on the final day.

Hosts Tahiti claimed their maiden OFC Beach Soccer Championship title with a thrilling 4-3 victory over three-time defending champions, the Solomon Islands, in front of a home crowd in the final at the Jardin de Paofai. James Naka’s two goals for the Solomon Islands were canceled out by four different goal scorers from Tahiti, as the hosts also qualified for their first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ in Italy.

Naka was awarded the golden ball and finished as the tournament’s joint top scorer with four goals, alongside teammate Robert Laua, and Fiji’s Jo Dugucagi. Tahitian goalkeeper Jonothan Torohia received the golden glove, whilst Fiji picked up the fair play award.

Later that year, Tahiti became the second OFC nation to win a match at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™, defeating Venezuela 5-2 on tournament debut in their campaign opener at the 2011 edition in Italy. Defeats to Russia and Nigeria meant they weren’t able to progress from the group stage though.

Tahiti players sing the national anthem during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Group C at Stadium del Mare on September 2, 2011 in Ravenna, Italy. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)