History for Big Pete 65

I'd say New Caledonia will prove the All Whites' toughest opposition in qualifying over the next couple of years.

They will have at least one decent pro playing in French football when the All Whites face them in qualification in the Oceania Nations Cup etc.

Perhaps two if established French Ligue 1 defender Wesley Lautoa makes himself available (see below - born in France but has stated a desire to play for New Caledonia). 

All  Whites "Honiara Horror" nemesis, striker Georges Gope-Fenepej of New Caledonia has been doing alright in his second season in French football with Estac Troyes. He made his debut with one Ligue 1 game for the club last season as they were relegated from Ligue 1. They currently sit tenth in Ligue 2.

Gope-Fenepej started the French League Cup quarter-final win vs. Evian in January and came on as an 82 min. sub in the close 2-1 February semi-final loss to mighty Olympique Lyonnais, the dominant French team of the last twenty years:

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/2c089683-3a65-4585-92b3-07c55efdd54f/language/en-US/Default.aspx

 http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/05/france/coupe-de-la-ligue/olympique-lyonnais/esperance-sportive-troyes-aube-champagne/1633433/commentary/

http://uk.soccerway.com/players/georges-gope-fenepej/178521/

14 appearances for Troyes in Ligue 2 this season (4 starts; 10 as a sub)

2 League Cup apps

1 French Cup (scored v Cannes in December)

12 goals in 10 appearances for the reserve team this season

Wesley Lautoa (Lorient, Ligue 1):

http://int.soccerway.com/players/wesley-lautoa/138718/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Lautoa

Potentially New Caledonia's best player would be 26 year-old Wesley Lautoa who has made 64 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lorient (32 so far this year). Previously more than 50 apps in Liogie 2 for Sedan. He hasn't played for New Caledonia yet - but would be one of the best defenders to ever come out of Oceania.

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/8a30e553-6ec5-4e27-bde4-41e0d5329d88/language/fr-FR/Default.aspx

15 January 2013

Wesley Lautoa, who plays for French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, will not be making an appearance for the New Caledonia national side in Stage 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March - but sees himself making his debut for Les Cagous in the future.

Lorient defender Wesley Lautoa intends making his debut for New Caledonia in the future. The 25-year-old defender was named in national coach Alain Moizan’s 50-strong preliminary squad in August last year, but says his professional commitments prevented him from joining up with Les Cagous. “I had just started in Ligue 1, it fell badly for me,” Lautoa says. “To play the Oceania World Cup qualifiers in March against New Zealand and Tahiti would mean I would miss championship matches with Lorient. I can’t, at the moment, allow that. But I follow the results and I’m hoping that it goes well for them.” Born in Épernay, a town situated in the Champagne region of northern France, Lautoa’s links to New Caledonia have been inherited through his family.

I'd say New Caledonia will prove the All Whites' toughest opposition in qualifying over the next couple of years.

They will have at least one decent pro playing in French football when the All Whites face them in qualification in the Oceania Nations Cup etc.

Perhaps two if established French Ligue 1 defender Wesley Lautoa makes himself available (see below - born in France but has stated a desire to play for New Caledonia). 

All  Whites "Honiara Horror" nemesis, striker Georges Gope-Fenepej of New Caledonia has been doing alright in his second season in French football with Estac Troyes. He made his debut with one Ligue 1 game for the club last season as they were relegated from Ligue 1. They currently sit tenth in Ligue 2.

Gope-Fenepej started the French League Cup quarter-final win vs. Evian and came on as an 82 min. sub in the close 2-1 semi-final loss to mighty Olympique Lyonnais, the dominant French team of the last twenty years:

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/2c089683-3a65-4585-92b3-07c55efdd54f/language/en-US/Default.aspx

 http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/05/france/coupe-de-la-ligue/olympique-lyonnais/esperance-sportive-troyes-aube-champagne/1633433/commentary/

http://uk.soccerway.com/players/georges-gope-fenepej/178521/

14 appearances for Troyes in Ligue 2 this season (4 starts; 10 as a sub)

2 League Cup

1 French Cup

12 goals in 10 appearances for the reserve team this season

Wesley Lautoa:

http://int.soccerway.com/players/wesley-lautoa/138718/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Lautoa

Potentially New Caledonia's best player would be 26 year-old Wesley Lautoa who has made 64 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lorient (32 so far this year). Previously more than 50 apps in Liogie 2 for Sedan. He hasn't played for New Caledonia yet - but would be one of the best defenders to ever come out of Oceania.

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/8a30e553-6ec5-4e27-bde4-41e0d5329d88/language/fr-FR/Default.aspx

15 January 2013

Wesley Lautoa, who plays for French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, will not be making an appearance for the New Caledonia national side in Stage 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March - but sees himself making his debut for Les Cagous in the future.

Lorient defender Wesley Lautoa intends making his debut for New Caledonia in the future. The 25-year-old defender was named in national coach Alain Moizan’s 50-strong preliminary squad in August last year, but says his professional commitments prevented him from joining up with Les Cagous. “I had just started in Ligue 1, it fell badly for me,” Lautoa says. “To play the Oceania World Cup qualifiers in March against New Zealand and Tahiti would mean I would miss championship matches with Lorient. I can’t, at the moment, allow that. But I follow the results and I’m hoping that it goes well for them.” Born in Épernay, a town situated in the Champagne region of northern France, Lautoa’s links to New Caledonia have been inherited through his family.