The seven countries set to clash in next month’s OFC Futsal Championship have named their final squads and are putting in the hard yards ahead of the tournament.

The competition will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji, from August 8 to 14 and includes national sides from Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

This year’s event is the seventh edition of the exciting, five-a-side indoor tournament and is the second to be held since it became an annual fixture. Previously, it was staged once every four years as a qualification tournament for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

With Fiji 2010 not serving as a qualifier, the seven participating teams will have an opportunity to develop players in preparation for next year’s championship which will determine OFC’s representative for the FIFA finals in Thailand 2012.

If history is anything to go by, the Solomon Islands will be the ones to beat in Fiji next month.

The ‘Kurukuru’ side made history in 2008 by becoming the first Pacific nation other than Australia to win the tournament (Australia is a founding member of OFC but switched to the Asian Confederation in 2006) and repeated that feat a year later.

Hosts Fiji will be keen this time to finally reverse a trend that has seen them finish runners-up on three occasions while Vanuatu will also be hoping to improve on a remarkably consistent run of five consecutive third placing.

New Zealand, Tahiti and Tuvalu all return to the competition after a one-year break while New Caledonia will want to put last year’s fourth place finish behind them.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas believes the Futsal championship is an important fixture on the OFC calendar.

“The popularity of Futsal continues to grow around the world and it is no different here in Oceania,” he says.

“We have been encouraged to see seven teams sign up for this year’s championship – three more than in 2009. And with OFC Futsal Development Officer Scott Gilligan working hard to develop the right structures across all of our Member Associations, the future looks bright for Futsal.”

The squads:
Fiji
1. Thakur Narayan(Goalkeeper) 2.Petero Dauniseka(Defender) 3.Sandeep Nair (Defender) 4.Simione Vesa(Defender)) 5.Ali Siga(Defender) 6.Ajesh Narayan(Defender) 7.Samuela Drudru (Forward) 8.Ilisoni Logaivou(Forward) 9.Kamal Hassan(Forward) 10.Roy Krishna(Forward) 11.Uraia Loki(Forward) 12.Levi Tawake(Goalkeeper).

Solomon Islands
1.David Lafai (Goalkeeper) 2.Paul Huia(Goalkeeper) 3.Elliot Ragomo(Midfielder) 4.Jenan Kapu(Pivot) 5.Lenson Bisili(Forward) 6.Moffat Sikwa'ae(Forward) 7.James Egeta(Pivot) 8.Jeffery Bule (Pivot) 9.Micah Lea'alafa (Forward) 10.George Stevenson(Defender) 11.Coleman Makau(Defender) 12.Jack Wetney(Forward).

Vanuatu
1.Chikau Mansale(Goalkeeper) 2.Terry Quare(Wing) 3.Don Mansale(Wing) 4.Junior Malas(Wing) 5.Edward Ben(Defender) 6.Derek Malas(Wing) 7.Louis Dominique(Defender) 8.Lui Sifas(Wing) 9.Nemani Roqara(Pivot) 10.Ben Hungai(Wing) 11.Jack Vira Ala(Pivot) 20.Daniel Mansale(Goalkeeper).

New Caledonia
1.Yorik Xenihate(Goalkeeper) 2.Loic Caunes(Defender) 3.Anderson Paulin(Forward) 4.Ivann Pourouoro(Forward) 5.Gabriel Areui(Defender) 6.Louis Waishitine(Midfielder) 7.Yoann Waikedre(Defender) 8.Cedrick Humuni(Midfielder) 9.Romain Guitton(Forward)10.Mainon Kaouwi(Forward) 11.Kevin Poaracagu(Forward) 12.Ronan Euzen(Goalkeeper).

Tahiti Nui
1.Jeannot Ganahoa(Goalkeeper) 2.Atanui Tetihaa(Goalkeeper) 3.Teivarii Kaiha(Defender) 4.Alexis Toofa(Defender) 5.Teva Durot(Defender) 6.Lysis Tauha(Midfielder) 7.Judicael Mai(Midfielder) 8.Gabriel Kavera(Midfielder) 9.Mana Farahia(Forward) 10.Löic Oldham(Forward) 11.Heifara Mau(Forward) 12.Herenui Peretti(Forward).

New Zealand
1.Elias Billeh(Goalkeeper) 5.Miro Major(Midfielder) 7.Marvin Eakins(Pivot) 8.Tariq Assad(Midfielder) 9.Brayden Lissington(Pivot) 10.Lucas Silva(Pivot) 11.Micky Malivuk(Forward) 14.Izaac Martell-O'Hara(Midfielder) 19.Said Soleimanpour(Forward) 20.Clayton Chappell(Goalkeeper) 21.Khalid Razouk(Midfielder) 22.Dylan Manickum(Midfielder).

Tuvalu
1.Siopepa Tailolo(Goalkeeper) 2.Mau Penisula(Goalkeeper) 3.Easter Tekafa(Defender) 4.Ali Takataka(Defender) 5.Malona Taukatea(Defender) 6.Ola Eliu(Defender) 7.Lopati Okelani(Defender) 8.Paitela Kelemene(Forward) 9.Laupula Huehe(Forward) 10.Ala Avia(Forward) 11.Jerome Funafuti(Forward)12.Afelee Valoa(Forward).

Source: OFC
Fijilive

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