Heimanu Taiarui in action at Tahiti training Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
Tahiti coach Teva Zaveroni is downplaying the pressure on his side as they prepare to defend their title at the Oceania Beach Soccer Nations Cup in Papeete which begins on Tuesday.
The two-times World Cup finalists face Tonga, Fiji and Solomon Islands in the French Polynesia capital with the tournament winner qualifying for February's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai.
The Tahiti squad contains a number of veterans like Jonathan Torohia, Heimanu Taiarui and Raimana Li Fung Kuee, as well as very promising newcomer Tamatoa Tetauira.
The 27-year-old Tetauira told OFC Media he is surprised that he is being described as the next great talent to come out of the territory.
"I just love what I do, my sport. I do it with passion and humility and that's what maybe differentiates me, humility is the most important thing," Tetauira said.
Zaveroni knows expectations are high for the 'Tiki Toa' in front of a home crowd.
"Of course we have pressure, we have to calm down and get back to our best level because there is a big gap between here and the World Cup. But we take this event very seriously and for us it feels like a World Cup and more," he said.
Zaveroni admitted finalising his final squad selection of 12 was difficult.
"It's always hard to make the list, it hurts some, even me, but we have to make choices and choose 12 men. We originally went for 20 guys but we have had to narrow it down to the 12. It is what it is," he reflected to OFC Media.
The tournament starts Tuesday local time (Wednesday NZT) with the hosts meeting Tonga and Fiji playing Solomon Islands.
It is the fifth time the Cup is being held in Tahiti and is the first tournament since 2019, with the 2021 tournament cancelled due to the covid pandemic.
Beach soccer has a long and rich history in French Polynesia. Tahiti remain the only OFC member association to reach a senior level World Cup final - having done so at the 2015 and 2017 Cups - losing out to Portugal and Brazil respectively - as well as a fourth place finish in 2013.
In the Beach Soccer Worldwide rankings, they sit 22nd, ahead of footballing royalty such as France, Germany and the Netherlands.