The league, the winner of which will go on to represent the country in the 2013 O-League, has taken a break for nearly two months due to the staging of the XIV Pacific Games, the football tournaments of which were held in New Caledonia from October 27 to September 9.
But the action will return on Saturday with a decisive pair of rescheduled fixtures. Three teams – AS Mont-Dore, FC Gaïtcha and AS Thio Sport – have already booked their participation in the play-offs – but this weekend’s matches will reveal who will join them by taking the fourth spot.
The fifth and final berth will go to a team from one of New Caledonia’s outer islands. The match to decide that club is set to take place on Thursday evening at Stade Hnassé on the island of Lifou and pits home side Qanono against Wacaélé, their visitors from Maré island.
AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport are not in direct combat this weekend but will be engaged in a battle of sorts as both sides are in the running for the fourth Super League place and are therefore in desperate need of a win.
Magenta, New Caledonia’s representatives in the 2011 O-League, will play Mouli Sport at the impressive Stade Numa Daly in Noumea while northern provincial team Hienghène take on AS Kunié, currently ranked last, at the Stade Yoshida in Koné.
The play-off chances of each team may well rest on the shoulders of their respective key strikers, who both starred for New Caledonia as Les Cagous earned the Pacific Games gold medal as hosts, their second title in a row.
Hienghène’s Betrand Kai caught the eye at the Games by winning the golden boot with his ten strikes, while Magenta counterpart Joris Gorendiawe also played an important role in finding the net twice.
Whoever can do so again this weekend will go a long way to determining the identity of the fourth-placed team.
Another interesting subplot is that Magenta had points deducted earlier in the season and the Fédération Calédonienne de Football Appeal Committee is yet to give its final response concerning that decision. The outcome will impact on the ranking of the top four if the points are awarded back to Magenta.
After this weekend’s matches are played and the appeal committee has revealed its decision, the make-up of the play-offs will be known and the fight for the 2013 O-League place can begin.
Mont-Dore, who will represent New Caledonia in the upcoming 2012 O-League that starts next month, are the favourites to earn a second successive title as they currently lead the table. But the four other teams will be just as eager to take out the Super League and thus earn the chance to compete in the Pacific’s premier club competition.
Super League Round 14
Hienghène Sport vs AS Kunié
Stade Yoshida
Koné
Saturday 24 September
Kick-off: 3pm local time
Mouli Sport vs AS Magenta
Stade Numa Daly
Nouméa
Saturday 24 September
Kick-off: 3pm local time
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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