Nicholls was in Fiji in March 2013 for the OFC U-20 Championship as a member of the Vanuatu squad, which was largely made up of the players who spend their season playing with fellow Group C side Tafea.
The 21-year-old on the other hand, has spent the past 12 years moving through the grades at Noumea-based Magenta and is all set to make his debut in the premier club competition with the side in Ba, Fiji.
The two teams have found themselves in Group C alongside locals Ba FC and Hekari United of Papua New Guinea. Magenta and Tafea will meet on the group’s final match day and until then Nicholls is completely focused on the task at hand.
“We have a good team. I’m one of the youngest in the youngest in the team and it’s such a pleasure to be playing with guys like this who have won a number of titles,” Nicholls says of his Magenta colleagues.
He’s speaking about the likes of 2012 OFC Player of the Year Bertrand Kai, former Les Cagous captain
Pierre Wajoka and current captain Olivier Dokunengo.
“It’s like if I were playing with Ronaldinho,” Nicholls says.
“For me, I’m playing with my idols. They’re the greatest players in the Pacific and I love the way they play.
“When I was younger I would watch them play and now for the first time I’m playing in the Champions League with them – it’s massive for me.”
While his teammates have plenty of accolades to their names, Nicholls also believes he’s fortunate to have experienced coach Alain Moizan at the helm.
“It’s not everyone who gets to have a coach like that. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to work with such a great coach.”
But turning his attention to the challenge that awaits at Govind Park in Ba, Nicholls says his side can’t rely on talent alone.
“I’ve thought about the opposition a little bit and we have to start slowly and take it match by match,” he says.
“I don’t want to say that because we have some great players that it will be easy for us to win. We have to come back down to earth, not get big heads. We have to remain level-headed, play football and think about playing for the pride of New Caledonia.”
There’s a lot riding on the side’s performance over the next week. The first goal is to top the group, the next to pass through the semi-finals unscathed and finally to win through to the FIFA Club World Cup.
For the young striker all of that is certainly on the agenda, but he also has some personal goals attached to the competition.
“Since I was young my goal has been to become a footballer,” he explains.
“I want to become a professional. I don’t want to work, I don’t want to do anything else – football is my life.”
His plan is to give his all on the pitch as he represents the club he holds close to his heart, especially if it’s going to prove a stepping-stone to a future as a professional.
AS Magenta kick-start their OFC Champions League campaign on Monday in the second Group C match against home-side heroes Ba.

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