New Caledonia Plays Spectacular Soccer

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 11

New Caledonia Plays Spectacular Soccer

VEW CALEDONIA and -*■’ New Zealand are of s-milar soccer strength, according to Auckland soccer supporters and officials who have visited! New Caledonia

Its football is fast and spectacular

Mr J. Brown, of Eastern Suourbs. Auckland, who has been masseur to two teams that have visited New Caledonia m recent years, sa dt “When New Zealand p.ayed the third test in Noumea in 1968. we won only by 2 goals to 1 aftei a thrilling clash S’nce ‘hen. it is obvious that the New Caledonians have improved" Mr W J Walsh, the Auckland sole selector and a former Irish international said he considers the New Caledonians to be fantastic, natural ball players" Mr Walsh visited New Caledonia last December as guest of the Blockhouse Bay «occfcr rl'ib of Auckland. who played five matches in and around Noumea

“The New Caledonian natives are just mad on soccer." said Mr Walsh on his return. “We found players, who were not due to take the field until 3 o'clock, stripped down and ready for

action at 7 in the morning. "Everywhere you go, there are goal-posts, and boys kicking a ball about." In the last five years, three teams from New Zealand have visited New Caledonia One was a full national side <1958>. and the other two Auckland club teams. Eastern Suburbs (1960 1 and Blockhouse Bay (1961). One New Caledonian team has visited New Zealand. This tour took place in February last year, when the New Caledonians came to Auckland as guests of Eastern Suburbs, and played three floodlit matches at Blandford Park. Although they had never played under floodlight before, the New Caledonians beat Auckland 5-2. Eastern Suburbs 4-1 and an Auckland Province invitation eleven 3-2. In 1958. the test results in Noumea were victories to New Zealand 2-1. 5-1. 2-1 Mr Brown considers the New Caledonians have improved by three goals a match since then.

Last season at Blandford Park, the success of the New Caledonians stemmed from the brilliance of two of their forwards, Guillaume

Tikoure at inside-left and Masie Adie at centre-for-ward W. Watson, the former English international at both soccer and cricket. who watched the New Caledonians beat Auckland, said he considered Guim and Adie <as they are known) to be “definite material for professional football in England." Watson said they may be lacking in subtlety, but in sheer natural ability they were amazing

D. Padgett was another English test cricketer who watched the New Caledonians in Auckland, and he. too. was impressed by their agility. Certainly, Auckland had no counter for the “black magic" of Guim and Adie, who scored most of their team's goals. Other star players were J Durand, a Frenchman who played left wing and was deceptively fast: R. Prevost, also a Frenchman, who was brilliant in goal: A Sambo, a tall, jet-black African centre-half: and C Benjamin. a sound right-back. Guim was undoubtedly the star. He was only 18 at the time of the tour. It is to be hoped that he will come again.