Solomon Islands national beach soccer team explained

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.

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]

Coach: Gideon Omokirio

Achievements

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/2347-bilikiki-ranked-fourteenth-in-the-world "Bilikiki ranked fourteenth in the world"
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20070706032823/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=500/edition=248211/news/newsid=105925.html "Bilikiki boys reach Brazil"
  3. http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=378 "Bilikiki Soccer Boys Crowned Beach Champions AGAIN!"
  4. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/2347-bilikiki-ranked-fourteenth-in-the-world "Bilikiki ranked fourteenth in the world"
  5. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=22378/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl?PHPSESSID=732a12b4ede3d96111ef0d7a43ec7e83 "Bilikiki beat Kurukuru in friendly"
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20071105065418/http://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/teams/team=1903118/squadlist.html Squad