2015 Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup runners-up Tahiti have kicked off this year’s tournament with a 5-4 win in a close match against 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers Poland.
The Tahiti Tiki Toa were the first to open scoring but the Polish side fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 after 12 minutes thanks to Jacek Ziober’s double.
Tahiti lifted in the second and third frames, dominating possession and finishing critical opportunities.
Former Tahiti coach and current Swiss coach Angelo Schirinzi is back with the Tiki Toa for the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup. Schirinzi is satisfied with the win considering the team’s circumstances but focusing now on the tough matches ahead.
“We have new players because Heimanu Taiarui is injured and Li Fung Kuee is out of training for a year because of his job in France,” he said.
“The five new players are young and they do not have the same quality from experience as the old players but we need these young players to fill the team.
“We will aim to get into the semi-finals but we know it will be very difficult.
“With new blood it will be difficult to be competitive like in 2013 and 2011, or in 2015.
“It’s very difficult to repeat but we will try to bring them on a good level.”
Tahiti’s next Group A challenge will be against United Arab Emirates on 2 November (local time).
For more on Tahiti football go to www.ftf.pf