Naea Bennett is the shock omission after Tahiti coaching duo Gerard Kutai and Claude Ynam named their squad for the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007.
Bennett – son of Tahiti football legend Erol Bennett – has been a mainstay of the national team and AS Pirae having lead his nation to two creditable 0-0 draws against New Zealand A and appearing at
the OFC Club Championship – New Zealand 2006.
Bennett’s loss will be a significant blow for Tahiti ahead of the first stage FIFA World Cup qualifying/South Pacific Games programme in a tough group draw that pits the French Polynesian team
against rivals New Caledonia, tournament favourites Fiji, plus minnows Cook Islands and Tuvalu.
Bennett – who refuses to play on Sundays for religious reasons – helped drive AS Pirae to the OFC Club Championship Final in 2006 but did not take the pitch for the match against Auckland City that
saw the Kiwi champions win 3-1 and qualify for FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2006.
New Tahitian club champions AS Manu Ura is represented by six players through the spine of the national squad with goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta, defenders Jean-Yves Li Waut joined by midfielders Hiro
Poroiae and Freddy Tauihara.
Strikers Billy Mataitai and Axel Temataua round off the Manu Ura presence in a squad missing the influential Bennett, Nicolas Paigne, Mikael Rock and Tamatoa Pahio.
Daniel Tapeta(Manu Ura) Xavier Samin (Tefana), Jonathan Torohia (Pirae); Stephan Gelima (AS Dragon), Pierre Kugogne(Temanava), Teraimaru Mervin (JT), AngÃffÃ,©lo Tchen(Tefana),
Farahia Teuira(Tiara Anani), Jean-Yves Li Waut(Manu Ura); Raimoana Bennett(Dragon), Samuel Garcia (Come), Raimana Li Fung Kuee(Dragon), Hiro Poroiae (Manu Ura), Freddy Tauihara(Manu Ura), Jerome
Tetavahi(JT), Temarii Tinorua(Tefana) Teva Zaveroni(TAC); Billy Matataitai(Manu Ura), Taufa Nueffer(Tefana), Axel Williams(Pirae), Axel Temataua(Manu Ura).
Staff: Gerard Kautai(selector), Jean-Claude Ynam(assistant) Roger Tetauira(Masseur), Jacob Teahionui(Medical)