AS Manu Ura received the perfect boost ahead of their opening O-League crunch match against Auckland City this weekend after recording a
morale-boosting 3-0 win over Tahiti Federale rivals Temarii Faaa that sent the defending champions to the top of French-Polynesia’s premier football club competition.
AS Manu Ura claimed the Division Federale from AS Temanava and look a good bet to retain the title they won last season after making several
new acquisitions for a busy season ahead that will see the Tahitian champions face a punishing schedule that includes Coupe de Polynesie, Division Federale and O-League.
Tahiti international goalkeepers Daniel Tapeta and Jonathan Torohia will fight it out for the number one jersey at club
level. Tapeta and Torohia were both part of Tahiti’s failed XIII South Pacific Games/FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Samoa 2007 bid in August/September and both will be out to taste some success after
a torrid time in Samoa.
Prolific 24-year-old striker, Billy Mataitai, will be relied upon to score the goals that will somehow shoehorn his club out of a
difficult O-League group with his exploits at XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 and OFC Beach Soccer Championship sure to add to his already notable levels of
experience.
Auguste Washetine is another name familiar to XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 observers. The muscular and bustling striker will
join international team-mate Mataitai in the search for O-League goals and defenders will be mindful of Washetine’s physical approach and eye for goal.
Elsewhere in Division Federale, AS Pirae were too strong for TAC, defeating the bottom-placed club 3-1. Aorai drew 1-1 with Tefana and
last season’s frontrunners, AS Dragon, continue their difficult start to this season after a dramatic 2-2 draw with JT.
TAHITI DIVISION FEDERALE – standings
| PL. | W. | D. | L. | GF. | GA. | PTS. | GD. | |
| Manu Ura | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
1 | 8 | +4 |
| Tefana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | +4 |
| JT | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | +1 |
| Temanava | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | +1 |
| Central Sport | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | -1 |
| AS Pirae | 3 | 1 |
1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | +1 |
| Temarii Faaa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -1 |
| AS Dragon | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
4 | 5 | -1 |
| Aorai | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -2 |
| TAC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | -6 |
Tahiti Division Federale: win = 3pts, draw = 2pts, loss = 1pt
Next fixtures: JT vs. Tamarii Faaa; Aorai vs. TAC; AS Dragon vs. AS Temanava; Centra Sport vs. AS Pirae; AS Manu Ura
vs. Tefana.