Digicel Junior Bula Boys Head Coach Marika Rodu has commended his team for their effort in the 1-0 defeat against New Zealand in the semifinals of the OFC U19 Men’s Championship in Apia, Samoa yesterday.
Despite the loss, Rodu expressed his pride in the team’s performance, noting that they executed their game plan effectively even though the outcome was not in their favor.
“We understood that facing New Zealand in the semifinal would be challenging. We aimed to create our own movements and launch attacks from chaotic situations. I believe we did a great job in creating chances and defending excellently throughout the match,” Rodu stated.
“Unfortunately, they scored right after halftime, and we missed a penalty shortly after. Although we had numerous scoring opportunities, we couldn’t manage to equalize.”
Rodu praised his team saying, “Hats off to the boys. They delivered a very, very good performance.”
He emphasized that the players adhered to the game plan, demonstrating their courage and belief in their ability to compete with a team like New Zealand. Rodu hopes this performance will mark a new chapter in their playing futures.
On a personal note, Rodu appreciated the challenge of playing against New Zealand, as it pushes him out of his comfort zone and allows him to refine his coaching style. He believes that a momentary lapse in concentration led to the goal they conceded but regards playing against New Zealand as a valuable experience due to their status as a benchmark team in the Oceania region.
Reflecting on the journey, Rodu mentioned, “It’s been a great six-week journey with the boys, who have worked tremendously hard to reach this point.”
Rodu and his team will return to action on Thursday when they face the Solomon Islands in the third-place playoff.