New Zealand's Fort Takapuna is playing host to football teams from around the Pacific for the Oceania Football Confederation Beach Soccer Championship. More than 500 tonnes of sand have been dumped on the reserve for the event and organisers say it's going ahead rain or shine. Teams from New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu will all be fighting it out for the chance to represent Oceania at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in November.
Confederation General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the OFC plans to put together a proposal to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2011 or 2012 with New Zealand as a possible addition to the world circuit. "The idea is to use beach soccer to showcase the laidback, multicultural and easy going approach to life that we enjoy in the Oceania region. I believe OFC can become a force to be reckoned with in this form of football," he told Ben Watson of the North Shore Times.
Confederation General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the OFC plans to put together a proposal to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2011 or 2012 with New Zealand as a possible addition to the world circuit. "The idea is to use beach soccer to showcase the laidback, multicultural and easy going approach to life that we enjoy in the Oceania region. I believe OFC can become a force to be reckoned with in this form of football," he told Ben Watson of the North Shore Times.