Several hundred young boys and girls were united by their passion for the round ball at the two-day event organised by Province Sud Football, with 40 of the region’s clubs being represented.
Giving youth a better option to roaming the streets and encouraging them towards understanding how to live together as a community were behind the festival’s creation.
Festival namesake and OFC ambassador Christian Karembeu says it was created to inspire participation, maturity and unity amongst youth in the country.
“It is important to give them another direction, to make them more accountable,” Karembeu says.
“But we also have to give them adequate tools to do that, and right now they don’t have them. This is where I considered that sport could have an emancipating effect that will help the youth to see there are other things out there.
“Every time I come here there are deaths on the road, drugs, alcohol – always – and it has to stop.”
Karembeu says he has seen a lot of support for the festival and what it aims to do for the community.
“There was enthusiasm from the children, of course, but also the parents. I am very proud of the success of the festival. This was a first for the country and I will remain faithful in my commitment to it.”
He says that with the finger often pointed at Canala for the wrong reasons, the festival could help the town change its image.
“We must eradicate the clichés used in reference to Canala. We can integrate the young people amongst each other – we are here to build a country and this type of event can help with that.”
Canala mayor Gilbert Tyuienon says hosting the finals was a great opportunity for the town and its community.
“We want to try and get things done and show our ability to accommodate so many people,” Tyuienon says.
“But as Christian explained, we must sustain the festival for our children to continue to learn and get to know each other.”
Festival Karembeu was designed to combine social responsibility with finding the Province Sud champions at four age group levels – U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-19 – in football and futsal.
Over the weekend friendly futsal matches were held between the U-8s and U-10s, while on the field the champions of the Province Sud – in U-14 OMS Paîta, U-16 AS Wetr and U-19 AS Magenta – played against teams from Canala.
Saturday evening also saw the town play host to the final of the Women’s Cup with Paîta defeating Wetr in front of a large crowd.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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