PAPEETE – Tahiti U-20 coach and FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Charbonnier has named his training squad for the next season’s Federal Championship.

Charbonnier named his squad last week as Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) prepares to host the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-20 Men’s Championship in December.

Tahiti finished fifth at the last edition of the OFC U-20 Men’s Championship in New Zealand in January 2007 while the U-17 team finished runners-up to New Zealand as the Colin Tuaa-coached kiwis qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup – Korea 2007 ahead of the Tahitians.

Charbonnier’s impact on Tahitian football has been a welcome boost for the game in French Polynesia with the graduates of last year’s U-17 team widely regarded as one of the countries best crop of youngsters in recent years.

The former Auxerre and Rangers goalkeeper said Tahiti and other Oceania nations would struggle to close the gap on the rest of the world but was optimistic gains within the region could still be made.

“Closing the gap in Oceania is more realistic.

The technical gap between New Zealand and the rest of Oceania is not that great.

This is a realistic target for teams like Tahiti,” Charbonnier told www.oceaniafootball.com.

Charbonnier says December will see how much progress has been made toward that aim.

“It will be an interesting tournament and I believe we have a good chance to show what we have learned,” Charbonnier said. 

The Tahiti U-20 team will play in the Federal Championship as part of its preparation programme for the big event.

The winner of the OFC U-20 Men’s Championship will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup – Egypt 2009. 

TAHITI U-20

Jason MATHIEU (AS Central); Teheipuarii HAUATA (AS Tefana); Ralph HEITAA (AS Vaiari Nui); Alvin TEHAU (AS Tefana); Stephane FAATIARAO (AS Tefana); Edson LEMAIRE (AS Vairao); Keni NUI (AS Pirae); Tauirei TEIVA (AS Venus); Marama AMAU (AS Venus); Kaurani VOIRIN (AS Pirae); Teheivarii LUDIVION (AS Venus); Heimano BOUREBARE (TAC); Teiefitu NAHUI (AS Tefana); Stanley ATANY (AS JT); Ricky AITAMAI (AS Venus); LOrenzo TEHAU (AS Tefana); Garry ROCHETTE (TAC); Jay WARREN (AS Pirae), Steeve CHONG HUE (AS Samine); Tuheirarii TETUANUI (AS Vairao);Rainui TZE YU (AS Venus); Moe ROHI (AS Punaruu).

Coach: Lionel CHARBONNIER (FRA)

TAHITI U-20 RESULTS (2007)

vs. Samoa (N) won 3-1

vs. New Caledonia (N) lost 1-2

vs. Vanuatu (N) drew 2-2

vs. New Zealand (A) lost 0-2

vs. Solomon Islands (N) lost 1-2 

vs. Fiji (N) won 2-0 

Final position: 5th