Solomon Islands national beach soccer team

The Solomon Islands national beach soccer team represents Solomon Islands in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by S.I.F.F, the governing body for football in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands
Nickname(s)Bilikiki
Bilikiki Boys
AssociationSolomon Islands Football Federation
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachGideon Omokirio
CaptainJames Naka
FIFA codeSOL


First colours


Second colours
World Cup
Appearances5
Best resultGroup Stage (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015)
OFC Beach Soccer Championship
Appearances5 (first in 2006)
Best resultChampions (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013)

The team are known as the Bilikiki, or Bilikiki Boys, after a sea bird which inspired "a popular children's song". The team have adopted both the bird and the song, and are "known for performing the song and [related] dance when they win their matches".[1][2][3]

They are statistically the best team in Oceania. Ranked fourteenth in the world as of 2010, they have won every regional championship since regional championships began in 2006. Their opening match 7–6 victory over Uruguay (former world finalists) in the 2009 World Cup has been described as "Solomon Islands' biggest achievement so far in a FIFA tournament".[4]

In January 2011, the Bilikiki played a friendly beach soccer match against the Kurukuru, the Solomon Islands national futsal team, which is also one of the most successful teams in Oceania. The Bilikiki won 4–1. Previously, the two teams had met for a friendly futsal match, which the Kurukuru had won 5–3.[5]

Current squad

Correct as of September 2013[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   Abraham Bird
2 DF   Samson Takayama
3 FW   Seni Ngava
4 DF   Patrick Marie
5 FW   Anthony Talo
6 FW   Nicholas Muri
No. Pos. Nation Player
7 FW   Robert Laua
8 DF   McPhilip Aisa
9 FW   Augustine Anisi
10 FW   James Naka
11 FW   Joe Luwi
12 GK   Fred Hale

Coach: Gideon Omokirio

Achievements

Note: No 2008 championship – Solomon Islands were automatically selected as the best team in the continent for the world cup)

References
  1. "Bilikiki ranked fourteenth in the world" Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 29 January 2010
  2. "Bilikiki boys reach Brazil", FIFA, 4 September 2006
  3. "Bilikiki Soccer Boys Crowned Beach Champions AGAIN!", Solomon Times, 8 July 2007
  4. "Bilikiki ranked fourteenth in the world" Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 29 January 2010
  5. "Bilikiki beat Kurukuru in friendly", Islands Business, 31 January 2011
  6. Squad
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