Tahitian football has lost one of its brightest young stars after Eddy Kaspard passed away in a road accident on Thursday 14 August, at the age of 24.
Speaking with Tahiti Infos, national head coach Samuel Garcia said he was devastated by the news. “When I heard the news this morning, I couldn’t believe it. I can’t believe a boy like him is gone. He was so kind, with a respect-inspiring upbringing. He was a man who always moved forward. And what can we say about his exceptional playing career? He experienced everything, played for every team, and shone every time he was on the pitch. He was a leader who attacked as much as he defended. He was an example to everyone.”
Kaspard was a regular member of the Tahiti national team in all age categories. Part of the youth national team in Poland for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup™, he played in two of his country’s three matches, against Senegal and the host nation. The forward, who had a stint at club level with Trelissac in France, also took part in the 2024 OFC Nations Cup and in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cups in 2022 and 2026.
The Papeete native, top scorer in the 2024/25 French Polynesian Championship with 37 goals, played in all four OFC FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers with the Toa Aito and opened the scoring against Samoa on the second matchday of the second round. That 3-0 victory helped Tahiti qualify for the third and final round of the continental preliminaries where they were eventually eliminated 3-0 by New Caledonia.
A statement from the OFC also paid tribute to one of the young stars of the continent.
“The Oceania Football Confederation is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Eddy Kaspard, a talented AS Venus player, 2024/25 Ligue 1 top scorer, and proud Tahiti international. OFC extends its heartfelt condolences to Eddy’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone at the Fédération Tahitienne de Football (FTF) and AS Vénus during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Eddy.”
