Before the two sides meet in the Saturday, 30 November final of the Coupe de Calédonie, they have to play their final matches in the national futsal league, the Super Ligue.
With just one point separating the pair, with UNC sitting on top with 49, Saturday’s fixtures at the Arene du Sud in Paita will determine who takes the psychological edge into the following week’s final.
Ferrand are set to take on eighth-placed Kartiers Nord, while UNC is playing the fourth-placed Olympique who sit only nine points off the top.
FC Ferrand coach Daniel Kausuo says it is a tough two week schedule his side is facing, but one they have been preparing for all season.
“These are two side that know each other well, that know the quality of the players they’re facing, so we are waiting for a real tough match in the Coupe de Calédonie next week,” Kausuo says.
“We have a good dynamic, and it’s this dynamic which has allowed us to go right to the end and, with no regrets.”
The same positive approach to the two encounters has emerged from the UNC camp as they too look to take the prize they believe they’ve earned this season.
“In terms of our spirit, the team is going hard, the players are motivated by the double-header,” UNC player Louis Waishitine says.
“We have our destiny in our hands in the championship but nothing is certain. Obviously playing at the Arene du Sud is an additional motivation too,” the international representative says.
“In our two confrontations against Ferrand this season, we lost once and won once, and in each match just one goal separated us. Now, we’ll set the counter back at zero before Saturday and before the cup final next weekend – it will be a great tactical match.”
Futsal is a discipline on the rise in New Caledonia according to FC Ferrand president Vincent Vasapolli.
“Everybody knows the discipline and we have more and more people coming to the games. Also media have totally integrated the game into their sports coverage,” Vasapolli says.
“We are expecting a big crowd for the final next weekend. The game is being played between the national league’s top two sides.”
Vasapolli says Ferrand is currently on a three-win streak and he expects the final to be a thrilling match with plenty of goals.
“Université have a prolific attack and score lots of goal, they have a good goalkeeper and some talented young players. We have a good defensive system and if we remain concentrated anything can happen,” the club president says.
‘’We can count on the quality of our players. Our captain Nickolas Ngodrela, who is also the number one-ranked tennis player in the country, will inject his competitive spirit into the team.’’
The final four matches of the New Caledonia Futsal Super Ligue will be played at Arena du Sud in Paita on Saturday, 22 November. The games get underway at 11am with the final match (Olympique vs. UNC) kicking off at 5pm.
The final of the Futsal Coupe de Calédonie will be played at Salle Anewy, in Noumea on Saturday, 30 November at 6pm.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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