Transcript
At the ripe age of 41 Teva Zaveroni will fill the duties of player, captain and coach as Tahiti bid to go one step better in the Bahamas. Surrounding him is a core of senior players, including 39 year old Naea Bennett, 36 year old Raimoana Bennett and 35 year old Angelo Tchen.
The only new face from the last World Cup is 28 year old defender Ariihau Teriitau while, at 25, Heiarii Tavanae is a relative spring chicken compared to his teammates. The Swiss coach Angelo Schirnzi, who was in charge of Tahiti at the 2013 World Cup in Papeete, doesn't believe age will be an issue.
"In beach soccer experience is very very important and players like (Heimanu) Taiarui he is 30 years old so he's not old in beach soccer. And of course Teva Zaveroni: now the player, the captain, the coach when I am not there. He is fit, absolutely fit, and he will help the team a lot. Two years ago he was not playing because he was injured but now he can play and you see the results they did last week so they will be very strong."
Those results included victories over El Salvador, Panama and Ecuador, with the latter two also among the World Cup finalists. Oceania Football Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey says one of the strengths of the Tahiti team is that the players look after one another.
"They cook for themselves, they've got a player-coach and you get that sense that the togetherness is almost like an extra player for this side. They went really close last time and even if the final against Portugal - I know they went down 3-0 early but if you look at the game - they came back so strongly so I think for them I really sense this is the moment. Maybe they can see that and perhaps win the tournament."
Despite returning to his role as Swiss national coach, Angelo Schirinzi retains close ties with the Tahiti team.
"Four years ago I bring them to the World Cup and we have a special relationship and I still help them and support them. Every year they will come to stay, come to Switzerland to play and I was with them at the Intercontinental Cup (in Dubai in 2015 and 2016) so they are very strong and I hope they will go a long way. The best case would be to see them in the final and and hopefully then with a better end for Switzerland but even if they will win the World Cup for me is a big satisfaction."
Tahiti face a daunting start against South American champions Brazil in their Group D opener on Friday afternoon local time, before two more tricky encounters against Japan and European champions Poland.