The 30-year-old Tchen is returning from a spell on the sidelines himself – having sat out the opening game due to suspension – but is one of the Toa Aito’s most experienced players and his inspirational qualities made him an obvious choice to lead the side out in what is sure to be a typically hard-fought battle with Tahiti’s traditional rivals.
The Tefana defender is proud to have taken on the role but is well aware of the need to shoulder the pressure that comes with it.
“It will be a big responsibility,” he says.
The Nations Cup winner will be charged with ensuring his side keeps its Stage 3 Oceania qualifying hopes alive in what is now a must-win game even at this early stage following the first-up defeat to the Bonitos in Honiara.
Although they ultimately took nothing away from that match, coach Eddy Etaeta and his charges will have been encouraged by the fact that they created a number of good chances and on another day could well have been on the opposite side of the 2-0 scoreline.
The new skipper says the Toa Aito are looking to rectify what went wrong in that match when they trot out to face New Caledonia’s Les Cagous.
“After the game in the Solomon Islands we all met and talked about what didn’t work,” he says.
The stand-in leader is under no illusions as to just how tough that could prove to be though and is rightfully wary of the dangerous attack New Caledonia possess, particularly in the form of Bertrand Kai and Georges Gope-Fenepej.
“We will have to be strong in defence as we know the individual qualities of the New Caledonia players,” Tchen says.
As with any tournament consisting of home-and-away ties, those matches at home are vital to success and Tchen is hoping a rapturous local crowd will create a cauldron-like atmosphere for their ferocious arch-rivals to help guide his side to three points.
“We are playing at home and will have to impose ourselves on the opposition,” he says.
“We hope to see a good crowd in the stadium and it will be important we receive their support.”

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