Newly promoted AS Kirikitr will make their debut in the nation’s premier league with a tough encounter against Tiga Sports at 5pm (local), while SC Ne Drehu will welcome FC Gaitcha at 7pm (local).
AS Kirikitr vs Tiga Sports, Thursday 6 March, 5pm, Stade Hnasse
It’s a new year and a new challenge for AS Kirikitr, a side that has long made the play-offs but has earned promotion for the first time. The arrival of a number of reinforcements has the club on its way to returning the appeal of its past. Adding to the club’s makeover is a changing of the guard as David Hmeun steps into the vacant shoes of his father Jules, who is currently acting President of the Federation Caledonienne de Football.
Hmeun says the side’s entry into the Super Ligue is with a number of younger players so early expectations aren’t aimed too high.
“They’re going be a level of apprenticeship required to get up to elite level before thinking about offering honours or titles,” he says.
However with the club having acted as the breeding ground for some of the nation’s top footballers such as Georges Gope-Fenepej and Jean-Phillippe Saiko, there’s every chance a new young talent could emerge from this squad.
Hoping to provide an adequate introduction to New Caledonia’s top level is Tiga Sports, a club based on Tiga, Lifou’s tiny neighbouring island. Tiga Sports had a tough 2013 season as they found themselves on the end of some unpleasant margins and narrowly avoiding relegation.
Unfortunately the transfer season has seen a number of key players leave their ranks, but new arrivals and a young team could be enough to see Tiga improve on their tenth placed finish.
SC Ne Drehu vs FC Gaitcha, Thursday 6 March, 7pm, Stade Hnasse
SC Ne Drehu didn’t fare too well in 2013 either, recording more losses than wins in their debut season – a factor they’ll be hoping to turnaround early with their opener against Gaitcha. Getting an early jump on the defending champions won’t be an easy task for the side which earned promotion to the Super Ligue in 2012.
The club was founded in 2008 with the team made up of players mainly originating from the tribes of Hnaeu and Luengoni in the south of Lifou. Having made their way to the top league in just a short stretch of time, the club is now looking to perform consistently on their way to the top.
On the back of their Champions Trophy loss to Hienghene, defending champions Gaitcha will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and start the season as they intend to finish it.
Gaitcha is another side that has seen a large number of off-season changes take place. Top scorer and 2013 Player of the Year Jean-Phillippe Saiko has left le Caillou to try his luck with FC Montaigu in France, Pierre Wajoka has headed off to AS Magenta while Kevin and Steeve Maitran have left for AS Lossi.
Reinforcements have arrived in the form of national team players Emile Bearune and goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine while Jackyno Maou has arrived from 2013 OFC Champions League side Mont Dore.
The Super Ligue action will continue on Saturday 8 March, with the four clubs again called in to action following a change to the FCF league system in a bid to counter some of the postponements and cancellations due to airline issues that have marred previous season. The four sides already on Lifou will switch opponents as AS Kiriktir take on Gaitcha at 7pm followed by Ne Drehu and Tiga Sports at 9pm.
AS Wetr vs AS Magenta, Saturday 8 March, 1.30pm, Stade Numa Daly
AS Wetr, who managed just six wins last season, face a difficult task when they take on 2012 champions AS Magenta at Stade Numa Daly in Noumea at 1.30pm.
Magenta will be a tough opponent as they are in the midst of preparations for the OFC Champions League group stages which will be held in early April in Fiji. Magenta, under former national coach Alain Moizan, have been in training some time as not only do they have the national league to worry about, but also progression in the OFC Champions League. Third in 2013, the side has lost Les Cagous keeper Nyikeine to FC Gaitcha, but have gained Pierre Wajoka and captain Olivier Dokunengo among others, ensuring Moizan has a strong lineup to choose from as he enters his sixth year in charge.
AS Lossi vs AGJP, Saturday 8 March 3.30pm, Stade Numa Daly
AS Lossi, who finished fourth behind Magenta in 2013, will play another newly promoted side, AGJP, at 3.30pm also at Numa Daly. Lossi have had mixed success of late, winning the Coupe de Caledonie in 2012 to earn a spot in the Coupe de France, they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Magenta a year later. New additions to the side, Luther and Patrick Wakanumune will be midfield talismans as coach Jules Jebez looks to improve on a disappointing 2013 outing.
Created in 2009, l’Association groupe des jeunes du Pacifique (AGJP) spent the first three years in the Province Sud’s first division and have been making their way up to the super league one division by one. The side took top honours in the PH Grand Terre to earn their promotion, whichcoach Jules Jebez puts down to the seriousness and collective approach of the group.
“It was especially poignant as we were the new kids in a championship where the level was higher than where we came from,” Jebez says.
As for the 85 goals they scored in 19 matches along the way, that was “the fruit of a job well done by some motivated young boys”, he concludes.
Hienghene Sport vs Thio Sports, Saturday 8 March, Stade de Hienghene, 2pm
The recent Champions Trophy victors looking to build on that success. Runners-up in 2013 talisman Bertrand Kai will be as key as ever for the side as they look to add to their spoils. Thio Sports meanwhile will be hoping to improve on a mid-table finish, and an early win over the favourites would be a welcome boost to the season opener.
Mont Dore vs FC Auteuil, Saturday 8 March, Stade Boewa, 2pm
Mont Dore is yet another side which has seen mixed results over the past few years. The side won the 2011 Super Ligue but proved one of the poorer performers in the 2013 OFC Champions League. The team will have to get over the loss of talismanic defender Oliver Dokunengo and hope that the existing squad, as well as some of their new recruits have what it takes to improve on their fifth place finish.
FC Auteuil rounds out the list of promoted sides who, after finishing runners-up in the PH Grande Terre, earned their chance to take on the nation’s elite for the first time. The side relies heavily on a group of youth players who are now in their second or third season of playing together.
“I count heavily on a team that has been able to amalgamate youth and experience. The objective is, obviously, to keep up during our first participation in the Super Ligue,” says assistant coach Michel Teulume.
“But, if we finish in a good place, we will aim a little bit higher the following season.”
Teulume has led the side for the past two years, but this year has stepped aside into the assistant role and handing the reins to Francois Tartas.
The 2014 Super Ligue gets underway with two matches on Thursday, 6 March and continues with the remainder of Round 1 matches to be played on Saturday, 8 March.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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