The league expanded from eight to ten teams this year and while the usual three, FC Ferrand, ES Houailou and Olympique, have asserted their dominance from day one there are a few other sides nipping at their heels – most notably the Stephane Parage coached side ASPTT.
Three matches into the season and ASPTT Noumea were sitting at the head of the table with an encounter against Olympique looming for 2012’s fourth placed side. However following a 5-4 loss, ASPTT have slipped down the rankings.
Ahead of the game Parage said it would be a real test for his side which battled constantly throughout to twice equalise with their opponent before eventually going down.
“Even if we lost, I am very satisfied with the performance of my players,” Parage says. “This match is a comfort to me in the sense that we can compete with the top sides, and we were not at the top of the championship from the beginning by chance.
“For our next match against Universite de Nouvelle-Caledonie anything is possible. Generally speaking that proves that our championship is beginning to be fought in every encounter. That’s very positive.”
Olympique coach William Bret, also coach of the national futsal team, says since the beginning of the championship it has been necessary to be vigilant of the hierarchy.
“Everyone has said that ASPTT had been weakened and so on. Me, I saw a good team, solid and well placed,” Bret says.
“It was a tight match, the result might have been different and there would not have been much to complain about. I would say that we made a difference with our collective tactical experience. As they have a lot of new players, they are maybe missing something in those important moments, and that could have tipped the balance in our favour.”
Profiting from this first mistake by ASPTT are FC Ferrand who have slipped into the top position as the only remaining team with a 100 per cent win record so far in the season. They beat a low-ranking CHT side just 6-5, while Universite de Nouvelle-Caledonie stumbled againt Koniambo who held the top four side to an 8-8 draw. It is the first time this season that one of the favourites has struggled against a team from outside of the top four.
“There are no longer insignificant teams,” Bret says. “These sides can see how things go and readapt their game plans and understand that it requires a strong defence. Every side has to be wary.”
Going into the fifth match day of the season this weekend, FC Ferrand is currently sitting at the top of the table on 16 points followed by ASPTT with 12 points while Koniambo and UNC round out the top four. SCO Kartiers Nord and Bwadouvalan are at the other end of the table with both sides yet to record a win.

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