A.S. Pirae

AS Pirae

Full name	Association Sportive Pirae
Nickname(s)	Ajkule
Founded	13 June 1929; 95 years ago (1929-06-13)
Ground	Stade Pater Pirae, Tahiti
Capacity	11,700
Chairman	Heimana Salem[1]
Manager	Vetea Terai
League	Tahiti Ligue 1
2023-24	Champions
Home colours Away colours

Association Sportive Pirae [pi.ra.e] is a football club from Pirae in Tahiti. They are one of the most successful teams in Tahiti having won the Tahiti Division Fédérale eleven times. They are also the first French Polynesian team to have reached the final of the OFC Champions League, which they achieved in 2006. In 2022 they were selected by the OFC to participate in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, as the representatives of the OFC.

AS Pirae qualified for the Oceania Club Championship 2006 after winning the Division Fédérale. In the group stages they recorded big wins against Marist FC 10–1, and Sobou FC 7–0, which was enough to secure their passage to the semi-finals despite a 1–0 defeat to Auckland City in the last game. In the semi-finals they pulled off a major shock beating YoungHeart Manawatu 2–1 thanks to early goals from Jose Hmae and Naea Bennett. However, in the Final they met Auckland City once again and suffered a 3–1 defeat. This remains the best performance by any French Polynesian side in the premier Oceanian club competition.

Between 2007 and 2010 Pirae have been unable to replicate the form that saw them finish runners-up in the Oceania Club Championship and they have not qualified for the competition in its new form the OFC Champions League. In the 2009–10 season Pirae finished 4th in the Division Fédérale and then 4th in the Championship play-off.

Pirae participated in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup as Oceanian representatives, after being nominated by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 31 December 2021.^[2] Initially, Auckland City were nominated by the OFC after the 2021 OFC Champions League was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Auckland City withdrew from the competition on 31 December 2021 due to delayed reopening of the borders in New Zealand related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reintroduction of the mandatory managed isolation and quarantine system upon returning to the country. As a result, Pirae were nominated instead by the OFC, based on sporting merit principles.^[3] Pirae lost 4–1 in the play-off match of Club World cup against hosts Al Jazira, with their only goal coming via an own goal from Mohammed Rabii.^[4]

• Tahiti Ligue 1
  • Champions (11): 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2013–14, 2019–20, 2020–21 2021-22.
• Tahiti Cup
  • Winners (10): 1970, 1980, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2023.
• Tahiti Coupe des Champions
  • Winners (3): 1996, 2021, 2022.

• Oceania Club Championship/OFC Champions League
  • Runners-up: 2006, 2024
• Pacific French Territories Cup
  • Winners: 2001, 2007
• Coupe D.O.M-T.O.M
  • Winners: 2002

Season	League/position
2012–13	7th in Ligue 1. 1/8 finals of Tahiti Cup.
2013–14	1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Semifinals of Tahiti Cup.
2014–15	2nd in Ligue 1. Tahiti Cup champions. OFC Champions League Group stage.
2015–16	4th in Ligue 1. 7th Round of Coupe de France. Quarter finals of Tahiti Cup.
2016–17	6th in Ligue 1. Round 2 of Tahiti Cup.
2017–18	4th in Ligue 1. Round 2 of Tahiti Cup.
2018–19	4th in Ligue 1. Semifinals of Tahiti Cup.
2019–20	1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Quarter finals of Tahiti Cup.
2020–21	1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Runners-up of Tahiti Cup. OFC Champions League cancelled. Nominated for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.

Source: ^[5]

• French Cup: 11 appearances

1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2015–16

• Best performance:

Eighth round – 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93

• OFC Champions League: 1 appearance

Best: Semi-finalist, 2013–14

• Oceania Club Championship: 1 appearance

Best:

2006: Finalist

Season	Round	Club	Result
2005	Group A	Sobou	5–1
		Auckland City	1–0
		Sydney FC	0–6
	Semi	Magenta	1–4
2006	Group A	Marist	10–1
		Sobou	7–0
		Auckland City	0–1
	Semi	YoungHeart Manawatu	2–1
	Final	Auckland City	1–3
2013–14	Group A	Solomon Warriors	2–1
		Kiwi	8–0
		Waitakere United	3–1
	Semi	Auckland City	0–3
		Auckland City	2–1
2014–15	Group A	Lupe o le Soaga	3–3
		Gaïtcha	2–5
		Ba F.C.	0–2

Squad for the 2023-24 Tahiti Division Fédérale.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  TAH Francois Decoret 2 DF  TAH Taumihau Tiatia 3 DF  TAH Matatia Paama 4 DF  TAH Haumau Tanetoa 5 DF  BEL Desire Ngiamba 6 MF  TAH Tamatoa Tetauira 7 MF  TAH Raimana Li Fung Kuee 8 MF  TAH Nick Tauotaha 9 FW  FRA Heirauarii Salem 10 FW  TAH Patrick Tepa 11 FW  TAH Sandro Tau 12 DF  TAH Thibault Pito 13 DF  TAH Ariiura Labaste 14 MF  TAH Alvin Tehau 15 FW  FRA Benoit Mathon

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 DF  TAH Tevaitini Teumere 17 DF  TAH Anahoa Aharau 18 FW  TAH Yohann Tihoni 19 MF  TAH Heimano Bourebare 20 MF  TAH Taniaya Barsinas 21 MF  TAH Tu'iterai Dezerville 22 MF  TAH Nehemia Teriitahi 23 GK  TAH Raihaamana Le Blastier 24 MF  TAH Raihiti Douepere 25 FW  TAH Teriitaumatatini Martin 26 DF  TAH Etiene Tave 27 MF  TAH Matheo Courtine 28 FW  TAH Obadiah Rattinassamy 29 FW  TAH Kali Lenoir 30 GK  TAH Tehei Hauata 32 GK  TAH Teva Burot 34 MF  TAH Nuriaru Mohau 35 GK  TAH Titouan Courtois

As of February 2024

Position	Staff
Head coach	Hiro Labaste
Assistant coach	Raimoana Bennett
Kitman	Steven Taero