For several years the season has begun directly with the championship, but this year the Fédération Calédonienne de Football competitions committee has been able to re-introduce the Coupe d’Ouverture to its calendar.
Competitions committee president Bernard Cureau says activities have been heavily influenced by the international calendar both in the past and today.
“Last season we faced a lot of criticism for slicing up the calendar with certain cuts lasting close to a month,” Cureau says.
“We were obliged to take into account the constraints of the international calendar, in which the national team had to contest the Nations Cup and the French Overseas Territories Cup. This year the start of the season is affected by the last two matches of the selection against New Zealand and Tahiti for FIFA World Cup qualifying.
“But there is also the OFC Champions League, which involves AS Mont Dore, and is being held throughout the month of April. Therefore we preferred to delay the kick-off of the championship.”
With both the Super Ligue and the second division Promotion Honneur Grande Terre start dates delayed until May, there was space in the calendar for the Coupe d’Ouverture to open the season.
Five Super Ligue sides and seven PH Grande Terre teams will be involved in the competition which is being played in a “checkerboard” format from February 13 until March 16.
“The checkerboard format means the losing sides on the first day will face each other in the next round of matches, while the winners will do the same on their side,” FCF technical director Serge de Novack says.
“At the end of the fifth day of competition, the team that has collected the greatest number of victories will be declared the winner. There won’t be any eliminated teams which will allow them all to contest the maximum number of matches.”
The Coupe d’Ouverture opens today with USC taking on AS Wet at Victorin-Boéwa Stadium and will continue with matches over the weekend.
It will be directly followed by the Coupe de Président, which uses the same checkerboard format, running from March 20 to April 27 and concluding just ahead of the championship kick-off.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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