New Caledonian footballer Germain Haewegene is embracing new opportunities after signing his first professional contract in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League.

The 29‑year‑old forward currently plays for Tahiti United FC, with the fourth round of the competition recently concluding in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Away from club duties, Haewegene has also been named in Les Cagous, the New Caledonia men’s national football team, as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup inter‑confederation play-off against Jamaica this Friday (GMT) in Guadalajara, Mexico.

A group of men wearing black and white stadium jackets and grey shorts stand in a group outside posing for a photo Haewegene and Les Cagous are looking to make history in Mexico and secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.(OFC Pro League facebook page)

Haewegene made his national team debut against Papua New Guinea during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (OFC) group stage in Doha, Qatar, and has remained a valuable member of the squad ever since.

“I started my football career back home; my first club I trained and played with in the NCL Super Ligue was AS Wetr,” he said.

“In 2021, I transferred over to play with AS Magenta and was with them until last year when I signed my first Pro-league with Tahiti United FC.”

A prolific goalscorer at club level back home, Haewegene tested his skills on a bigger stage when he made his OFC Men’s Champions League debut in 2024, representing AS Magenta in Tahiti.

That same year proved crucial in his international journey, as New Caledonia prepared to compete in Round 2 of the 2024–26 Men’s FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifiers.

Haewegene was part of the squad that defeated Papua New Guinea’s Kapuls in their Group A opening match in Fiji, before travelling to Port Moresby to complete the remaining fixtures.

A man in white & red footy uniforms makes aplay with a soccer ball amidst 3 other soccer players wearing all red soccer uniforms Haewegene in action for Tahiti United against PNG Hekari during OFC Pro-League Round 3 in Melbourne.(OFC Media via Phototek)

The Cagous secured a hard‑fought 3–2 win over Solomon Islands before drawing with Fiji, a result that pushed them through to the semi‑finals.

Those semi‑finals were held in Wellington, New Zealand, in March 2025, where New Caledonia outclassed Tahiti to advance to the final qualifier. New Zealand, meanwhile, overcame Fiji to book their place in the decider.

The final between New Caledonia and the All Whites was played at Eden Park in Auckland.

“It was an emotional experience for us when we lost against New Zealand in that OFC Qualifying final but we knew we had another opportunity to cease for the World Cup and that’s the Intercontinental play-off,” Haewegene said.

Beyond football, Haewegene is also deeply involved in para‑athletics, holding qualifications as a para‑athletics coach and working to prepare New Caledonian athletes for local, regional, and international competitions.

A dual athlete himself, he has previously represented New Caledonia in athletics and continues to invest his time and knowledge in the para‑sports space.

“I got involved in athletics and competed as track and field athlete, I’m also a qualified para-athlete coach in the athletics space,” he said.

Haewegene’s first Pacific Games came in 2015 in Port Moresby, where he served as guide runner for decorated T11 vision‑impaired sprinter Sylvain Bova. 

The pair claimed gold in the 100‑metre ambulant sprint and repeated their success at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.

Man in white singlet wearing black shorts runs next to a man wearing a yellow singlet with the words 'Guide' on athletics track Haewegene guiding NCL para-sprinter Sylvain Bova during an athletics meet.(Supplied)

“While playing football, I made time to train and coach para-athletes in Athletics and got to compete in a number of international meets guiding Sylvain. We took part in the French championships, several international meetings and the European Championships,” he said.

“I’ve been to a couple of Pacific Games, the most recent one was the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Koror Palau, a few months after the Oceania qualifying final in New Zealand.”

Haewegene described his time with Tahiti United as an unreal experience, saying it has allowed him to live out his dream of becoming a professional footballer and hopes his journey can inspire young athletes back home in New Caledonia.

“It’s an honour representing Tahiti United in the OFC Pro-League and I look forward to many more ahead,” he said.

“For younger generation back home, everything is possible if you put your mind to it. If you take up sports, continue to give your best until you reach your goals.”

A Kanak man wearing a red football uniform and white football shoes and socks pushes off on his right leg on a soccer field. Haewegene training during the Cagous field session in Mexico earlier this week.(Fcf Foot media)

Meanwhile, Haewegene and Tahiti United teammate and cousin Joseph Athale departed for Mexico over the weekend to join the rest of the New Caledonia squad.

Johann Sidaner’s coached side has been preparing for the match since the Oceania qualifying final in March, with their last warm‑up fixture coming against Gibraltar. Haewegene scored the second goal in that match to seal the victory.

New Caledonia now has its sights set on another opportunity to secure a place at football’s biggest stage.

Les Cagous face Jamaica in the semi‑final on Friday, March 27 at 2pm, with the winner set to meet DR Congo for a place at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.