The three other fixtures in the second round of the 2012 O-League are scheduled for November 19-20 but Saturday’s showdown needs to take place before then as Tefana have a Coupe de France fixture to fulfill against French side Red Star that weekend.
It is fitting that Mont-Dore’s meeting with Tefana should stand alone, however, as it is deserving of its own billing.
New Caledonia and Tahiti, both overseas territories of France, are traditional sporting foes and matches between sides from either nation are always hotly-contested. The clash on Saturday is sure to be no different as each outfit has plenty to play for after opening their new campaigns in the Pacific’s premier club competition with losses.
Mont-Dore, making their first appearance in the O-League since 2007, were disappointed to leave Fiji empty-handed after giving up the lead in a 2-1 defeat against Ba, while Tefana suffered a major embarrassment in New Zealand by succumbing to Waitakere United 10-0, the highest ever winning margin in the competition’s history.
Tefana coach Laurent Heinis admits the humiliation of that loss was felt strongly amongst the players but is confident it will prove to be a one-off.
“We have to make sure it was just an accident,” he says. “We needed to react well afterwards and we did with a 6-0 win over newly-promoted Punaruu in our national championship. We have to build on this success and continue to improve against Mont-Dore.”
The Faa’a-based side had to play for most of that record-breaking match against Waitakere with only 10 men after the early sending off of goalkeeper Xavier Samin. That dismissal means the Tahiti No 1 is suspended for the francophone derby and is joined on the absentee list by midfielder Lorenzo Tehau, who is unavailable for personal reasons.
“Our preparation has been good and we now need to correct some of the mistakes we have made this weekend,” Heinis says. “The squad needs to regroup and show something different. But we know it will be difficult as to play in New Caledonia is never easy.”
Mont-Dore’s usual home is Stade Boewa but they will instead be playing their home O-League matches at the splendid Stade Numa Daly in Noumea, a decision which midfielder Olivier Dokunengo feels will inspire the players.
“It’s important that we show the crowd we are worthy of playing there,” he says of the prospect of running out at the 10,000-capacity ground.
New Caledonia international Dokunengo, a key member of the national team that won the XIV Pacific Games as hosts in September, played for the entirety of that disappointing defeat to Ba and says he and his colleagues struggled in the stifling conditions as the match wore on.
“It was very hot – a lot hotter than New Caledonia,” he says. “We played well for 60 minutes but the last half an hour was very difficult and we were exhausted by the end.”
Mont-Dore had begun their domestic season just a week earlier and Dokunengo says the squad’s lack of game time proved telling.
“We had only played one game so did not have much preparation. But we have had two more matches since playing Ba so our fitness is now much better. I think the match will be a lot different to the one against Ba.”
Dokunengo admits the New Caledonia-Tahiti rivalry is a motivating factor but says the Mont-Dore players are focused on the larger O-League picture.
“It’s always a bit special to play a Tahitian team because our countries have always had this historical rivalry. But after losing the first game we just want to win this weekend, it doesn’t matter who we are playing.”
2012 O-League Match Preview
Mont-Dore [NCL] vs. Tefana [TAH]
Saturday 12 November
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Jamie CROSS [NZL]
Assistant referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant referee 2: Noel XOLAWAWA [NCL]
Fourth official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]
Mont-Dore: 1. Jean-Jacques WACHOU [GK], 2. Dominique SAWA, 4. Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE, 5. Georges WADENGES, 6. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7. Patrick DIAIKE, 8. Kalaje GNIPATE, 9. Michel HMAE, 10. Romain PAINBENI, 11. Rony ATTI, 12. Pierre NYIKEINE, 13. Loic WAKANUMUNE, 16. Noel POAROUPOEPOE, 17. Jose HMAE, 18. Jean-Marc HMALOKO, 19. Fabrice WACAPO, 21. Ludovic WAKANUMUNE, 25. Ricardo PELLETIER
Coach: Thierry SARDO
Tefana: 1. Heremataarii HATITIO [GK], 2. Stephane FAATIARAU, 3. Pierre KUGOGNE, 4. Luthy BOHL, 6. Heimano BOUREBARE, 7. Taufa NEUFFER, 8. Tetiamana MARMOUYET, 10. Hiva KAMOISE, 11. Jean-Claude CHANG KOEI CHANG, 12. Arnaud SICOT, 13. Stanley ATANI, 16. Sebastien LABAYEN, 18. Tauraa MARMOUYET, 20. Axel WILLIAMS, 21. Angelo TCHEN, 24. David CHANG KOEI CHANG, 25. Leonce ROOMETUA [GK]
Coach: Laurent HEINIS

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