2024 Result: Runners-up
Head Coach: Vatea Terai
Tahiti champions AS Pirae came within ninety minutes of winning their maiden OFC Men’s Champions League title last year on home soil.
Despite an impressive run to the final however, they came up short against Auckland City, falling to a 4-0 defeat at Stade Pater in Papeete and will be hoping to go one better this year. With no National Playoffs to negotiate, their 2024 title success in Ligue 1 was enough to book their place in Honiara – a third OFC Men’s Champions League appearance in succession.
Their opening fixture is a rematch of the 2024 final, with an immediate chance to exact some revenge and to lay down a marker in what will surely prove to be a tough group to emerge from unscathed.
They then take on Fijian side Rewa FC, before completing their group assignment with a clash against AS Tiga Sport of New Caledonia.
It’s a tough challenge for Vatea Terai and his side, with Group A marked as a meeting of some of the best club sides in the region.
Terai was in charge for last year’s run to the final and is aware that a repeat performance – or an improvement – won’t be easy, considering the scale of the challenge.
“This group is called the group of death – all of our opponents are very strong.
“We love participating in the OFC Champions League precisely because we will have to raise our level if we want to progress,” Terai said.
Preparations haven’t been ideal for AS Pirae, with a number of squad members tied up with obligations to either Tahiti’s beach soccer squad or the national side ahead of this month’s FIFA World Cup 26™ Oceania Qualifiers.
“The preparation itself is a little disrupted with part of our squad either with the Tiki Toa or with the national team. We are doing our best to be ready for the OFC Champions League, with our domestic league matches acting as preparation ahead of the tournament,” he said.
One other obstacle for AS Pirae will be the significant changes that the team has undergone since last year’s tournament, with a number of players from 2024 no longer part of the squad.
“Almost the entire defence from last year has changed. There’s a number of departures and absences, but we’ll have to deal with that,” said the coach.
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
AS Pirae fixtures
Kick-off times local
v Auckland City FC
Sunday, March 30 | 3:00pm
v Rewa FC
Wednesday, April 2 | 12:00pm
v AS Tiga Sport
Saturday, April 5 | 12:00pm