Bilikiki ends participation at World Beach Games

The Solomon Islands Beach Soccer National Team participation in 2019 World Games is over. Bilikiki lost all three matches and finished as fourth place in Group B.

World Beach Games is organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and it was the first edition of the games, held in Doha (Qatar). Oceania had one berth in Beach Soccer, given to the OFC top ranked in BSWW World Ranking. Tahiti is the top ranked in Oceania but they were ineligible to enter since French Polynesia is not a member of ANOC. Therefore, the berth has been given to Solomon Islands because they are OFC’s next highest ranked team that is an ANOC member.

Solomon Islands was in group B with Spain, Italy and Mexico. Despite losing all three matches, Bilikiki had a good performance in the tournament by playing at a good level against european sides.

Bilikiki’s debut was against Italy. The first goal was scored by Italian Gabriele Gori but Solomon Islands drew the match immediately with Roy Mafane. The first period ended 3-1 for the europeans while the second ended 6-4 for them. At the final whistle the sheet was 8-5 for Italy. Roy Mafane and Robert Laua scored two goals each while Max Fa’ari netted once.

The second match against Spain was crucial for Solomon Islands because a loss would eliminate them with one match remaining. Despite playing well and making a tough game, Bilikiki lost to Spanish side by 8-5. Fa’ari was SI’s top scorer with two goals while Roy Mafane, Robert Laua and Allen Farobo netted one goal each.

Already eliminated, SI faced Mexico that was also already eliminated and it was an easy win for the Latin Americans that won by 8-2. The goals were scored by Fa’ari and Mafane. These two players were the topscorers of their nation with four goals scored each.

It was a good opportunity to push players at a high international level. The last time Bilikiki played a world competition in Beach Soccer was in 2013 when they played FIFA World Cup in Tahiti. Solomonic Team is growing and has a good future. They almost qualified for 2019 World Cup but they lost to world power Tahiti in OFC Nations Cup final.