Eddy Kaspard
{{Short description|Tahitian footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Eddy Kaspard
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|5|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Papeete, Tahiti
| currentclub = Tefana
| clubnumber = 27
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = 2006–2011
| youthclubs1 = Manu-Ura
| youthyears2 = 2011–2016
| youthclubs2 = Tefana
| youthyears3 = 2017–2020
| youthclubs3 = Trélissac
| years1 = 2020–2022
| clubs1 = Trélissac
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022–2023
| clubs2 = Pouzauges Bocage
| caps2 = 11
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2023–
| clubs3 = Tefana
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Tahiti U17
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam2 = Tahiti U20
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2022–
| nationalteam3 = Tahiti
| nationalcaps3 = 15
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| ntupdate = 10:39, 30 April 2025 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|TAH}}}}
{{MedalComp|OFC Nations Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2024 Fiji/Vanuatu|}}
}}
Eddy Helfara Aru Kaspard (born 27 May 2001) is a Tahitian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tahiti Ligue 1 club Tefana and the Tahiti national team.
Club career
As a youth Kaspard began playing with A.S. Manu-Ura from age five to ten. He then moved to A.S. Tefana where he remained until 2015. That year he participated in a trials in Metropolitan France organized by Tefana. After being spotted by Ligue 1 club AS Saint-Étienne in a tournament, he was invited to return when he turned sixteen.{{cite web |title=Deux joueurs du club en stage à l’AS Saint-Etienne |url=https://www.tefana.football/deux-joueurs-club-stage-a-las-saint-etienne/ |publisher=AS Tefana |access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}} However, the return trial was unsuccessful and he then had a test period with AJ Auxerre. After not being offered a spot in the club, he had a successful trial with Trélissac FC of the Championnat National 2 in 2017.{{cite web |title=Football – Coupe du monde U19 : Focus sur Eddy Kaspard |url=https://www.ftf.pf/football-coupe-du-monde-u19-focus-sur-eddy-kaspard/ |publisher=Tahitian Football Federation |access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}}{{cite web |title=Caroline Tang reçoit Teva Ferrari et Eddy Kaspard |url=https://polynesie-paris.com/2018/08/30/recherche-de-polynesiens-pour-une-serie-de-programmes-tv/ |publisher=Delegation de la Polynesie Francais a Paris |access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}}{{cite web |title=Deux Tahitiens en formation dans un club de Ligue 1 |url=https://www.tntv.pf/tntvnews/sports/deux-tahitiens-en-formation-dans-un-club-de-ligue-1/ |publisher=tntv.pf |access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}}{{cite web |last1=Obrize |first1=Orianne |title=Football - Quatre jeunes de Tefana sélectionnés |url=https://actu.fr/polynesie-francaise/papeete_98735/football-quatre-jeunes-de-tefana-selectionnes_27903667.html |publisher=actua.fr |access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}} That year he reportedly also drew interest from AS Monaco.{{cite web |last1=Abel |first1=Jason |title=Vanuatu Native in Tahiti’s U-20 World Cup Team |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/vanuatu-native-in-tahiti-s-u-20-world-cup-team/article_d8200807-87c6-56dc-8c16-b3e2d67c6ba2.html |publisher=Vanuatu Daily Post |access-date=22 February 2022}} In the 2021–22 Coupe de France Kaspard appeared for Trélissac in the club's Seventh Round victory over A.S. Vénus, Tahiti's representative in the tournament that season.{{cite web |title=Tahiti confirm 23-strong group for Oceania Qualifiers in Qatar |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/tahiti-confirm-23-strong-group-for-oceania-qualifiers-in-qatar/?fbclid=IwAR2Lp0cJPAsj6wdb1lEEiSGbbkCel5eaN0WR6yiiEx_lSdmLSzYJyWduuIY |publisher=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=22 February 2022}}
In December 2022, Kaspard moved to Pouzauges Bocage FC of the Championnat National 3.{{cite web |title=Football. National 3 : deux mois de frustration pour Pouzauges |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/football/pouzauges-bocage-fc/football-national-3-deux-mois-de-frustration-pour-pouzauges-92554d70-77ee-11ed-9ec4-22d627b65d9b |publisher=ouest-france.fr |access-date=5 January 2023 |language=French}}
International career
As a youth Kaspard represented Tahiti at the under-17 and under-20 levels. He captained the Tahiti team at the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship and scored against Papua New Guinea in the final match of the Group Stage.{{cite web |last1=Taule |first1=Troy |title=PNG Beats Hosts Tahiti at OFC U-17 Championship Meet |url=https://www.looppng.com/sport/png-beat-hosts-tahiti-2-1-ofc-u-17-championship-meet-52694 |publisher=Loop PNG |access-date=22 February 2022}}{{cite web |title=Papua New Guinea 2 Tahiti 1 |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-u-17-championship-group-a-400008/papua-new-guinea-tahiti-400024/ |publisher=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=22 February 2022}} After turning down an offer to play for France at the under-19 level, Kaspard scored three goals in the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship. He scored against New Zealand{{cite web |title=New Zealand 2 Tahiti 1 |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-u-19-championship-2018-group-a-461576/new-zealand-tahiti-2314552/ |publisher=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=22 February 2022}} and Papua New Guinea{{cite web |title=Tahiti 6 Papupa New Guinea 0 |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-u-19-championship-2018-group-a-461576/tahiti-papua-new-guinea-2314554/ |publisher=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=22 February 2022}} in the Group Stage before adding a goal against the Solomon Islands in the Semi-finals.{{cite web |title=Suri apologies to nation |url=https://theislandsun.com.sb/suri-apologies-to-nation/ |publisher=The Island Sun |access-date=22 February 2022}} Kaspard's three goals put him tied for third place in the tournament's Golden Boot race.{{cite web |title=NZ CLAIM TITLE IN TAHITI |url=https://www.fijione.tv/news/nz-claim-title-in-tahiti/ |publisher=Fiji One.tv |access-date=22 February 2022}} Tahiti ultimately finished as runners-up in the tournament and qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.{{cite web |last1=Jakanduo |first1=Leo |title=NZ and Tahiti book World Cup berths |url=https://www.pngfootball.com.pg/nz-and-tahiti-book-world-cup-berths/ |publisher=Papua New Guinea Football Association |access-date=22 February 2022}} Kaspard was then named to Tahiti's final roster for the tournament{{cite web |title=Football : deux joueurs du Trélissac FC sous les couleurs de Tahiti |url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/football/trelissac-fc/football-deux-joueurs-du-trelissac-fc-sous-les-couleurs-de-tahiti-2591432.php |publisher=Sud Ouest|access-date=22 February 2022 |language=French}} and appeared in all three of the nation's Group Stage matches.{{cite web |title=GSA profile |url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/eddy-kaspard/168942/ |publisher=Global Sports Archive |access-date=22 February 2022}} Ahead of the tournament he was identified as Tahit's Player to Watch by Goal.{{cite web |title=Under-20 World Cup: Squads, favourites and players to watch in Poland |url=https://www.goal.com/en-sa/lists/under-20-world-cup-squads-favourites-and-players-to-watch-in/13qavl6prkmgx18j74tibi5bhj#cs368c843f658b88db |publisher=goal.com |access-date=22 February 2022}}
In February 2022, Kaspard was named to Tahiti's roster for a training camp in France and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. He was one of four foreign-based players in the squad.{{cite web |last1=Romena |first1=Romeka |title=Tahiti Names Final Squad for Qualifiers |url=https://fijilive.com/sports/football/news/2022/02/tahiti-names-final-squad-for-qualifiers/46854.Fijilive |publisher=Fiji Live |access-date=22 February 2022}}
=International goals=
Scores and results list Tahiti's's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 28 August 2023 | Stade Pater Te Hono Nui, Pirae, French Polynesia | {{fb|COK}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 9–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 31 August 2023 | Stade Pater Te Hono Nui, Pirae, French Polynesia | {{fb|COK}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 3–0 | Friendly |
| 3. | 24 November 2023 | SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands | {{fb|MNP}} | align=center|5–0 | align=center| 5–0 | 2023 Pacific Games |
| 4. | 15 November 2024 | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand | {{fb|SAM}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 3–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| colspan="7"|Last updated 15 November 2024 |
=International statistics=
{{updated|match played 21 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=NFT profile |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/de/player/86856/Eddy_Kaspard.html |publisher=National Football Teams |access-date=27 March 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Tahiti | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Total||15||4 |
Personal life
Kaspard's father, Abet Kaspard Tahi, is a former footballer from Pentecost Island, Vanuatu and a former member of the New Hebrides national team. His mother is from Tahiti where the younger Kaspard was born and raised.
Honours
- OFC Nations Cup: 3rd place 2024{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftf.pf/coupe-des-nations-2024-de-lofc-decouvrez-la-liste-officielle-des-joueurs-selectionnes/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0NhLlJHnazTmDdj2Gt0YkfoulrY_f7JJ8gbNZM8tYhALGnCtEoCT4vTS4_aem_AcaIPmKAwz5QmTaSdOLZtm4MYxQ5omnOA29ajvaRRHeCtDrUM6AaRKkyU3-swhAUpcL3FvIaFTEJ2EYuI-LWlNxw|title= Coupe des Nations 2024 de l'OFC : Découvrez la liste officielle des joueurs sélectionnés!|language=fr|access-date=October 31, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NFT player|86856/Eddy_Kaspard}}
- {{GSA player|eddy-kaspard/168942}}
- {{Soccerway|eddy-kaspard/474237}}
- [https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/eddy-kaspard/ Oceania Football Center profile]
{{Tahiti squad 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaspard, Eddy}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:French Polynesian men's footballers
Category:Tahiti men's international footballers
Category:Trélissac-Antonne Périgord FC players