Coupe de Tahiti champions Dragon are welcoming fifth division side Belfort at home, while first time Coupe de Caledonie winners Hienghène have travelled to France for an encounter against AS Poissy in the 7th round of the competition.
Dragon coach Ludovic Graugnard believes his side’s advantage will be playing at home at Stade Pater.
“To welcome them here at Pater is an advantage. We don’t have to travel, so there’s no jetlag,” he said.
For New Caledonia’s representative, the trip to France already posed a challenge, but recent events have seen that challenge grow.
Co-coach Michel Clarque did not get on the plane to Paris on Sunday night, for reasons that remain unknown, but in speaking ahead of their final Super Ligue match before heading to France, Clarque was conscious of the team’s chances.
“We’re not the favourites at all,” he said. “Every week they [Poissy] are playing at a level that is so far removed from our own. We have a local generation that is really good and our championship can hold up in Oceania – but it’s another step up here.
“But it’s through encounters like this one that we can see how we can progress. The club is still very young, it was created in 1999, and the objectives are long term.”
The young team, with an average age of 24 years old, still has the services of co-coach Charlie Bouanou who is hoping to see Hienghène make it through to the next round of the prestigious competition.
The club from New Caledonia’s north-east will also be without midfield-playmaker Roy Kayara, who helped the side triumph in the cup final over Qanono, who is launching his playing career in New Zealand.
Another blow to the side is the injury 2011 OFC Player of the Year Bertrand Kai picked up in Saturday’s match against Thio. While he has travelled with the squad, he remains in doubt for the encounter.
Despite the setbacks the team remains positive about their chances.
“The hardest part? That it will be cold,” said goalkeeper Jean-Yann Dounezeck ahead of Hienghène’s departure.
Hienghène play Poissy on Saturday, 16 October at stade Léo-Lagrange in Poissy with kick-off scheduled for 8.30pm (local). Tahiti’s encounter with Belfort is being played at Stade Pater in Pirae on Saturday, 16 November kicking-off at 7pm.

Share