NOUMEA – AS Magenta eased to a 2-0 win over AS Lossi in New Caledonia’s Super Ligue Challenge Cup at the weekend. The tournament created as a pre-season filler due to the 2008 Coupe de L’Outre-Mer competition has struggled to capture the imagination of fans in the French Overseas Territory with a number of fixtures in the Northern section cancelled.
Magenta’s victory gaurentees them a place in the final likely to be against Hienghene Sports.
AS Mont Dore drew 2-2 with AS Mouli Sport in the other match, a result with no effect on the top spots.
Other fixtures in the much-vaunted tournament have been traditional pre-season affairs with clubs unable to field first choice players with "Les Cagous" away on international duty in France.
Meanwhile, Christian Karembeu has joined France Football Federation (FFF) Président Jean-Pierre Escalettes at the 2008 Coupe de l’Outre-Mer. New Caledonian-born Karembeu has been a staunch supporter of Oceanian football since his retirement from playing in 2005 and recently celebrated his Pacific roots with a Jubilee match in Noumea in May.
In Federation Caledonienne de Football (FCF) futsal news, AS Siria could strongly rival defending national champions Ferrand. Ferrand won the title last June thanks to an inspired performance by Alex Rosso and were strongly represented at the OFC Futsal Championship held in Fiji in June.
For the latest news from New Caledonian futsal please visit www.fcferrand.asso.nc
SUPER LIGUE CHALLENGE CUP
AS Magenta vs. AS Lossi 2-0
AS Mont Dore vs. AS Mouli Sport 2-2
Christian Karembeu: In France to support the 2008 Coupe de L’Outre-Mer