The Champion’s Trophy pits the Super Ligue title holders, in 2013 Gaitcha, against the winners of the Coupe de Caleldonie, Hienghene Sports, in a season opening match up which is far from a friendly.
Victorious club director Ritchi Bouanou was ecstatic to get an important win under the belt so early.
“We are really happy to win this trophy,” he says.
“Everyone fought right to the end.”
The determination and will to win was evident on the field as the Champion’s Trophy got underway on Saturday, 1 March at Numa Daly Stadium in Noumea.
Gaitcha came flying out of the blocks, applying plenty of pressure on their northern counterparts for the first 20 minutes of the match.
But after spending that early part of the game on the defensive, captain Bertrand Kai started leading his side back into the match.
Thirty minutes in and the two sides were more evenly matched, but still neither side had really asserted themselves on the match.
Through Kai, Hienghene were looking slightly more dangerous in front of goal as he tested Gaitcha keeper Rocky Nyikeine with several on target efforts.
The second half saw Gaitcha pressing forward as they looked for a winner, but that tactic soon cost them when Hienghene took advantage to open the scoring in the 54 minute.
Kai slipped an excellent pass between two defenders for his centre forward Fabiano Dahite who let rip, beating keeper Nyikeine.
With a one goal advantage Hienghene slowed their attack lulling the game into a false sense of rhythm. Gaitcha tried to take advantage of Kai’s exit in the 73 minute and dominate the remainder of the match, but were unable to really create any dangerous plays in the Hienghene box.
It clearly wasn’t Gaitcha’s day as the match entered the final minutes they took a corner only to see the ball picked up by the blues and a swift offense launched.
Defender William Tentao played to Dahite who fired home to earn his second goal of the match and earn a 2-0 victory for his side.
To score twice in the win was a hugely buoyant experience for Dahite.
“I’m happy with the goals. As an attacker it definitely gives me pleasure to score. We were ready on Saturday,” he says.
“And, with this trophy, we’ve helped the other teams understand that, this year, it’s our turn. This season we need to play every match like it’s the final.”
For defeated coach Daniel Toto, it was disappointing not to take home the trophy.
“The two teams are equal but today we were below them,” Toto says.
“I’m disappointed with the defeat and especially the rhythm we produced, but we have had just one month of preparation. It’s too short.”
The 2014 Super Ligue season gets underway this weekend with some exciting matches scheduled.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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