Beach soccer players set to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup

Six of New Caledonia’s beach soccer players are set to kick-off the competition in Qatar with Hienghene side

Hienghene Sport are on the brink of making history as they become the first side from New Caledonia to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Six members of the nation’s beach soccer squad will be kicking off the competition, against local Qatar side, Al-Sadd, who are coached by non-other than FC Barcelona legend, Xavi Hernandez.

The beach soccer players have played a key part in the club’s success up to this point, with keeper Rocky Nyikeine winning the Golden Glove in the 2019 OFC Champions League, and striker Amy Roine scoring an incredible strike from his own half, which turned out to be the winning goal, after coming on as a substitute in the final.

The head coach of Hienghene Sport, Felix Tagawa, is also the coach of the New Caledonia beach soccer team, and in an interview with the BBC, he explained how playing beach soccer helped his players to get as far as they had.

“Beach soccer is still football but on a smaller scale and is played differently. It helps the range of a footballer in terms of his senses, the understanding of seeing things quickly, playing fast and the technical application, which improves movement,” said Tagawa.

“For me football ‘reduced’ helps the players because it uses the complete skills. Working barefoot in the sand is ideal for building strength in the ankles and helps with shooting because it makes the area of contact on the foot harder.”

New Caledonia sits more than 1400km off the east coast of Australia and has a population of less than 300,000 people. All of the players in the Hienghene roster, who could potentially face European champions Liverpool should they win their opening two matches, have full-time jobs, many working as fisherman, farmers and teachers.

The FIFA Club World Cup will run from 11 – 22 December in Doha, Qatar, and will feature clubs such as Brazil’s Flamengo, Mexico’s CF Monterrey and definite favourites to lift the trophy, Liverpool FC.

Photo: OFC