Cook Islanders Tupapa Maraeranga earned the chance to take on their New Caledonian counterparts Mont-Dore for a place in next season’s O-League after fighting off the challenges of Kiwi (Samoa), Lotoha’apai United (Tonga) and Pago Youth (American Samoa) to win the preliminary round robin, an enthralling tournament that wrapped up on Saturday.
In contrast, the circumstances leading to Mont-Dore’s involvement in the O-League Preliminary Play-off have been far less memorable. The francophones were required to come to Tonga for the winner-takes-all clash after a disappointing 2012 O-League campaign that saw them pick up fewer points than any of the seven other sides.
Despite their poor form, however, Mont-Dore go into the play-off as warm favourites due to their position as an incumbent O-League team and higher standing on the international scene.
Tupapa player-coach Tony Jamieson admits his charges are very much the underdogs but sees no reason why they can’t cause an upset and create history in the process by becoming the first Cook Islands club to compete in the O-League.
“I expect they’re going to come at us and try to tear us to pieces and so they should,” he says.
“My impressions are that they are very fast and accurate, and they look well organised – it’s what you’d expect from an O-League team. They are probably a great deal fitter than us and are used to playing against some very good quality teams. But our defence has stood pretty strong and we can also put goals away at the other end. We just need to focus on keeping a solid structure and be smart about when we attack and how we do that.”
Tupapa qualified for this stage with an undefeated march through the round robin – drawing 3-3 with Lotoha’apai before beating Kiwi 2-1 and Pago Youth 9-0 to progress on goal difference – but Jamieson says that run has taken its toll on the players.
“It’s been quite a tough tournament because we’ve had three games in five days. You pick up niggles that get worse as time goes on. So we’re not in peak condition but have got the determination and are obviously on a bit of a high. We know the pitch reasonably well which is another bonus for us.”
While several of the squad are carrying knocks, no one has yet ruled themselves out of contention and Tupapa’s chances will be boosted by the return from suspension of sharp-shooting striker Campbell Best. Jamieson did not take part in the final group win over Pago Youth due to an infection on his elbow but is likely to be fit enough to assume his place between the sticks.
“We just need to dig deep and give it everything. There’s so much to play for – it’s a massive incentive. We have nothing to lose whereas Mont-Dore have a lot to lose,” he says.
Tupapa will face a new-look Mont-Dore line-up after the Noumea-based outfit decided to make some changes following that dismal O-League showing. Coach Thierry Sardo has been replaced by a duo consisting of Haroid Oiremoin and Stephane Drahusak, who have swept a broom through the playing squad in an attempt to bring about a change in fortunes. Six young talents have been brought in at the expense of more experienced campaigners as the new bosses put their faith in the exuberance of youth to see Mont-Dore through.
“We have brought a lot of young players here and do not know much about our opponents,” Oiremoin admits. “We have not prepared specifically for this match, other than playing in our national league. We do not know the level of Tupapa so it will be come as a surprise to us. That’s just the way it is though, we have no choice but to play and we simply have to win.”
Several players have been under an injury cloud in the build-up to the match but, like their opposite number, Oiremoin and Drahusak are expecting to have a full squad to pluck from come kick off. Drahusak, a former coach of the New Caledonia U-20 national team, is aware Mont-Dore are favourites but feels the players are capable of shouldering that burden.
“We know we have to win but do not want to put much pressure on ourselves as we are confident we have everything in our hands to do so,” he says.
The winner of Tuesday’s match will join the champion clubs of Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu in the 2013 O-League.
2013 O-League Preliminary Play-off
Tupapa Maraerenga [COK] vs. Mont-Dore [NCL]
Loto-Tonga Centre
‘Atele, Tonga
Tuesday 8 May
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant referee 1: Jackson NAMO [SOL]
Assistant referee 2: Folio MOEAKI [TGA]
4th official: John SAOHU [SOL]
Tupapa Maraerenga: 1. Tony JAMIESON [GK], 2. Mii JOSEPH, 3. Hone FOWLER, 4. Paul TUREPU, 5. Allan BOERE, 6. Matangi MATANGI, 7. Twin TIRO, 8. Rhys RUKA, 9. Leo BERLIM, 10. Campbell BEST, 11. Grover HARMON, 12. Delaney YAQONA, 13. Roger MANUEL, 14. Eddie BROGAN, 15. Nikorima TE MIHA, 20. Iona LUPENA [GK]
Coach: Tony JAMIESON
Mont-Dore: 22. Yoran WAIMA [GK], 2. Dominique SAWA, 3. Jacques WAMYTAN, 5. Theo CHEVAILLIER, 6. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7. Thomas DIO, 8. Jerome TAXIER, 9. Herve KAPARIN, 10. Romain PAINBENI, 11. Cedric DECOIRE, 14. Steevens LONGUE, 15. Pascal KENON, 18. Jean-Marc HMALOKO, 19. Fabrice WACAPO, 20. Loic BESSIERES, 24. Ben MALAKAI, 26. Curtis MARLIER
Coach: Haroid OIREMOIN