Five New Caledonians Played In 1962 Test
Five of the New Caledonian soccer players who step out on to English Park on Saturday to play the first round match against Canterbury in the 8.0.A.C. international Easter tournament will be making their second appearance on the ground.
They were members of the national team that was beaten, 4-1, by New Zealand at English Park in 1962.
The five are Jacob Adja (full-back), Tran Van Hong (wing-half), Gerald Dalmas (inside forward), Robert Naxue-Paouta and Jean-Pierre Gouzenes (wingers). In the 1962 test at English Park. Hong was outstanding among the New Caledonians, sharing with the former English international, K. Armstrong, and the New Zealand centre-forward. T. Pugh, the individual honours in the game.
Hong, who played righthalf on that day. was promi-
nent both in defence and attack, and scored his side’s only goal. Acrobatic Kicking Adja, too, was impressive as the other wing-’..alf, his Continental-style acrobatic overhead kicks being a spectacular part of his game but not detracting from his otherwise solid defensive qualities. Less was seen of the three forwards—Naxue-Paouta, Dalmas and Gouzenes, and on t’. e heavy, gluey surface, which
was completely foreign to the conditions in New Caledonia, their short-passing game suffered in contrast to the more direct methods of the New Zealand forwards. None of the present Canterbury squad played in the match, although the Western captain, P. Frost, named as one of the three backs for the Canterbury team, was a reserve for New Zealand on that day. New Caledonia played four matches in New Zealand during the 1962 tour, losing again to New Zealand, by 4-2, at Auckland, but defeating the Auckland provincial side, 3-2, and Otago, 3-1. Last-minute Tour The New Caledonians agreed to a last-minute tour of New Zealand after the Brazilian club, Olaria, made a late withdrawal, and the team was hastilly gathered and did not include its best players.
This time there has been no occasion for such haste, and, in fact, the New Caledonians amply proved their abilities last week when they defeated a touring Auckland team, 2-1 and 4-0.
This time Auckland had to leave behind three of its regular players and included untried reserves in the second match at Noumea, but this should not detract from the New Caledonians’ performance. They will provide a tough first hurdle for Canterbury. The New Caledonian players are:—
Goal-keepers: R. Gaya-Gurera, aged 19, six caps, toured Auckland 1964: J. Wasman, 24, two caps, toured Auckland 1964. Backs: C. Bearune, 23, 15 caps, toured New Zealand 1962 and Auckland 1964; J. Adja, 27, three caps, toured New Zealand 1962: A. Wabealo, 24, new representative.
Halves: M. Benjamin, 20, six caps, toured Auckland 1964: J. P. Koindredi, 23. seven caps: T. van Hong, 27. 10 caps, toured New Zealand 1962, played national club football in France. Inside-forwards: G. Dalmas, 24. 16 caps, smallest player in the side, toured New Zealand 1962, Auckland 1964: A. Bernut, 27, two caps; W. Hmeoun, 19. new representative. Wings: J. P. Gouienes, 24. 12 caps, toured New Zealand 1962, Auckland 1964; R. Naxue-Paouta, 24 18 caps, toured New Zealand 1962, Auckland 1964; R. Tran Bich The, 21. four caps, toured Auckland 1964: L. Paeon, 20. new representative. Centre-forwards: W. Lalie, 23. new representative: J. Sop, 20. new representative. The party will be managed by Mr Alain Girold, a member of the New Caledonia Football Association, and coached by Mr Guy Elmour.
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