New Caledonia will begin preparation for the 2007 Oceania Football Confederation U20 tournament this weekend. The team will be coached and selected by former Baco FC coach Didier Chambaron.
Federation Caledonienne de Football spokesman Jean-Paul Salvatore was confident the team would be competitive come January when the final squad will arrive in Auckland.
The team will depend on the performances of the defensive partnership of Jordan Nimbo and Jean-Christ Zenlier. They will be assisted by club-mate Pierre Tikoure. All three players come from National League club USC. USC are currently struggling at the bottom of the New Caledonian National League but is comprised of mainly young players in a competition that is largely dominated by its physicality.
The New Caledonian U-20 side will gather at the Pentecost Stadium in Noumea for their first training session as their preparation programme for 2007 begins.