PAPEETE: AS Venus, the glamour club in Tahiti’s Federal Championship and one of most successful ever are in danger of relegation after being hammered 1-6 by league leaders and rivals Pirae last weekend. That loss plunged them to second from the bottom on the points ladder.
The decline of Venus as a powerbroker in the Tahitian club ranks started with the departure of key players last season in Samuel Garcia and striker Felix Tagawa, who are seasoned internationals. Garcia went to France while Tagawa went to Australia for an unsuccessful stint with NSL club Brisbane Strikers.
Tagawa, one of Tahiti’s most prolific strikers at both international and club level, returned to Tahiti but joined the Dragon club which is currently fifth. His goalscoring form has been disappointing this season with only three goals though his season has been disrupted by injury.
Venus also suffered with the death late last year of inspirational wing back Steeve Fatipua-Cahill. The premier team is almost now almost devoid of game breakers and finishers.
The Federal Championship heads soon into its top four playoffs and Venus will be left to fight for its existence in the bottom four promotion/relegation series. Other teams in the bottom bracket include Dragon, PTT and Arue.
Pirae, Tefana and Tamarii Faa’a are almost assured of their spots in the top three. And reigning Polynesian Cup champion
Manu Ura is also unlikely to be unseated in fourth spot. Fifth placed Dragon is seven points adrift from the top three. However, their 2-0 win over PTT in round 14 action last weekend increased their chances. Tamarii Faa’a thrashed cellar-dwellars Arue 9-0 while in the final round match, Tefana beat Manu Ura 2-0.
Tahitian international Naea Bennett has been in hot goalscoring form during the 2003-04 season and leads the pack with 19 goals. He has spearheaded the potent Pirae attack which has scored 55 goals in 14 matches. Pirae’s defence has also led the way with only five goals conceded.
*In other news, the new Tahitian national coach Gérard Kautai will lead a trial national team against a selection of Tahitian based New Caledonian players in a friendly match on 20 February at the Pater Stadium. This trial national team will form the basis of the final squad to compete at the OFC Nations Cup-World Cup qualifiers in May.
Round 14 results
Dragon-PTT 2-0
Vénus-Pirae 1-6
Arue-Tamari Faa¹a 0-9
Manu Ura-Tefana 0-2
Points Ladder
Teams Pts P W D L F A Diff
1. Pirae 49 14 11 2 1 55 5 +50
2. Tefana 44 14 8 4 2 26 5 +21
3. Tam. Faa¹a 41 14 9 0 5 28 18 +10
4. Manu Ura 38 14 7 3 4 40 11 +29
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5. Dragon 31 14 5 2 7 21 31 -10
6. PTT 27 14 4 1 9 21 29 -8
7. Vénus 27 14 3 4 7 16 27 -11
8. Arue 15 14 0 1 13 7 88 -81
Top goal scorers:
19: Naea Bennett (Pirae)
13: Ramon Djamali (Manu Ura), José Hmae (Pirae)
11: Patrick Diaike (Manu Ura), Michel Hmae (Tamarii Faa¹a)
10: Patrick Tereroa (Tam. Faa¹a)
8: Gabriel Wajoka (PTT), Elmour Wabealo (Tefana)
6: Raimoana Bennett (Pirae).
5: Laurent Canhemez (Vénus), Joseph Luenu (Dragon)
4: Angelo Utia (Vénus), Franck Papaura (Manu Ura), Joan Petillon (Tefana)