Each was a player of notable talent and represented their country at the highest level, defender Naxue featuring for New Caledonia in the 2007 Pacific Games and goalkeeper Hafoka taking part in Samoa’s campaign at the recent OFC Nations Cup.
The untimely deaths of the pair have deeply affected many of their former teammates and others involved in football in their respective homelands, some of whom have already come forward to pay their tributes and offer condolences.
Former New Caledonia national team coach Didier Chambaron, now a member of the OFC Technical Department, made Naxue a major part of his Pacific Games plans five years ago and says his talent as a player was matched by his conduct away from the field.
“Above all else, he was a very good person. I don’t think you’d be able to find anyone with a bad word to say about him,” Chambaron says.
“He was very intelligent and had a masters degree in economics. He was able to manage football and his studies well and was an ideal role model.”
Naxue, 26, won only a handful of caps for Les Cagous – each of those arriving in that Games campaign in Samoa – but Chambaron is sure they would have been added to in future years.
The passing of the Lifou native, who had been playing for Magenta but came through the ranks with Lössi, has been particularly hard on many as it arrives just under 18 months after the tragic death of Jean Wahnyamalla, who also hailed from the island of Lifou and likewise played for Lössi.
The loss of Hafoka has been felt just as strongly in Samoa, a country in which he had carved out a reputation as one of the safest pair of hands around.
The 25-year-old was a standout performer for the Moaula club and played a big role in much of the side’s recent success.
Hafoka was named Goalkeeper of the Year as Moaula finished the 2010/11 national league season in second place and was a hero of the club’s win in the domestic cup competition, saving a penalty in the opening round against Kiwi before producing some impressive performances in the latter stages of their march to the final.
His splendid form saw Hafoka selected as one of three custodians in the Samoa squad for the OFC Nations Cup, held in the first weeks of June in Solomon Islands, and he took his place between the sticks for the opening match of the tournament against Tahiti.
He was to see no further action though as coach Malo Vaga chose to give his other two goalkeepers, Aukusitino Aitupe and Ethan Hanns, game time in Samoa’s remaining group matches.
The Solomon sojourn was Hafoka’s second taste of international football, following on from his appearance at the 2007 OFC U-20 Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.
“We are all very sad to hear of this tragic news and our thoughts go out to Motu’s family and friends in what must be a very difficult time for them,” Football Federation Samoa chief executive Sarai Bareman says.

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