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MY BEACH SOCCER 
The OFC Beach Soccer Nations kicks off today in Papeete, with one berth for Paraguay 2019 at stake
The stage is set at Papeete’s Parc Aorai Tini Hau for the much anticipated OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup 2019 which will take place between 17 and 22 June in Tahiti.
Five teams will be competing in French Polynesia with New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu joining defending champions and two-time FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup runners-up Tahiti.
Apart from regional supremacy, a spot in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 is also on offer for the tournament winner.
With double-headers scheduled over six consecutive matchdays, each of the five participating teams will face each other once in a round robin format before the final and the third-place play-off to conclude the competition.
Beach soccer enjoys enormous popularity in Tahiti, which distinguished itself on the global stage both by reaching two World Cup finals and by hosting the successful FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2013.
With big crowds expected throughout the tournament and with the best talent from across the Pacific on display, the OFC Nations Cup promises to showcase the game throughout the entire Oceania region.
OFC Beach Soccer Development officer Paul Toohey says it’s great to see the tournament back after a six year hiatus.
“For all of us involved in beach soccer the overwhelming sensation is that it’s fantastic to be here on the eve of the OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup after so many years away, he said.
“The important thing is we are back. I’m happy for the players, the coaches, the referees and the fans who have had to wait since 2013.
“There is so much enthusiasm here in Papeete this week, I am certain we will have a wonderful tournament to showcase the sport and make sure that beach soccer is here to stay.
“It is great we have five teams involved, but we want to grow the sport. Our aim for 2021 is to have at least eight teams. But this is a fantastic start. Oceania players are born on the sand, beach soccer is our game,” Toohey added.
Source: OFC official site
