Tahiti or The True Face of Happiness

They are salesmen, drivers, teachers or unemployed, but for seven days, they get to be under the spotlight with the stars. They are the Tahiti national football team!

Since last Sunday, the world has discovered a touching and likable football team in the professional world of the Confederations Cup. Among Nigeria, Uruguay and World Champion Spain, Tahiti is living a dream.

It's a dream that came true a year ago, when Tahiti won the Oceania cup, defeating New Caledonia (1-0). However, the scenes of joy at the end of that game were nothing compared to the elation the players felt when they accomplished one of their objectives: scoring a goal.

They were all waiting for it, the Tahitian fans, the Brazilians who decided to cheer for the underdog--a major underdog. Painted in red and white, with flower shirts and leis around the neck, they cheered for the Toa Aito ("Iron Warriors") every time the team had the ball! And then it came...

Jonathan Tehau is now the face of Tahiti all around the world. The first tahitian goal-scorer in an international FIFA competition. The 24 year-old player scored on a header off a corner kick by Marama Vahirua, the only professional player of the team.

Tahiti showed the world the real face of Football: passion, happiness, fun, respect and humility. When the players take on the field, they enjoy being there, playing with their heart and with a smile on their face from the first kick to the last.

Despite two major losses (1-6 to Nigeria and 0-10 to Spain), Tahiti is loved by Brazilians, but also by their opponents. After the game against Spain, Fernando Torres said Tahiti was an example for other teams.

"All of us have become big fans of that team. We have all had our photos taken together. It was a joy to play in that match and not just because we won easily, but because they were sporting and despite losing they played with a smile on their faces."

Spain manager, Vicente Del Bosque added that Tahitian players played fairly and that "every time they had the ball, they tried to attack us."

It's not something you see every day against Spain. And, when most teams would have played tough football after conceding so many goals, Tahiti kept playing its way, while respecting the game and the opponent. Each player wanted to enjoy their time on the field, staying as long as possible, maybe hoping that it would never stop... 

Tahiti has one more game to play Sunday against Uruguay. Ninety minutes of pure pleasure, smiles, happiness, and the dream will be over. The "stars" for a week will get back to their everyday lives, minds filled with memories. And they'll leave us with cheerful hearts...