While Magenta are set to make their sixth appearance in the OFC Champions League, Lossi will be making their debut in April which makes this match an important one.
If they can get a good result against the 2014 league winners, they will put themselves in a strong position going into the region’s premier international club competition.
Magenta have made a number of recruitments in the off-season bringing in 12 new players including Pierre Wajoka. In total, the squad is made up of 28 which gives coach Alain Moizan a number of options.
For Lossi there have been a few line-up changes including the arrival of Jorisse Cexome previously of SC Ne Drehu, while national U-23 representative Jim Ouka has also joined the squad along with goalkeeping teammate Thomas Schmidt.
Lossi also have a new coach, Stephane Drahusak, who has been leading a pre-season which began in mid-January.
“It’s a new season debuting, with a very difficult match against Magenta to start with, we know the quality of the team and we also know what their ambitions are,” Drahusak says.
“This season there are new players and returning players, which will all bring something to the team, especially with some of the players we already have at the club.
“The integration of the new players has been good and we’ve seen some interesting things from the team in our preparation matches.”
As well as focusing on their domestic season, Lossi is also looking ahead to their debut in the OFC Champions League, and following the success of Gaitch in 2015 they know a place in the semi-finals is not out of their reach.
“For Lossi. this is important,” Drahusak says.
“The competition is an opportunity to lift the colours of our country, our district and our club higher. We’re in a difficult group, but we are going to Auckland to at least make the semi-finals.
“It will be very difficult for us to leave our group but we have to believe.”
AS Lossi have been drawn alongside Suva (FIJ), Team Wellington (NZL) and Hekari United (PNG).
The 2016 Super Ligue season gets underway at Stade Numa Daly on Thursday 3 March at 7.15pm between Magenta and Lossi.
For more on New Caledonia football visit www.fedcalfoot.com

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