Head Coach Marika Rodu of the Digicel Junior Bula Boys praised his players for their effort in the 1-0 defeat against New Zealand in the semifinals of the OFC U19 Men’s Championship held in Apia, Samoa yesterday.
Rodu, although emotional, expressed pride in his team’s performance, noting that they executed the game plan well, but the result did not go their way.
“We knew facing New Zealand in the semifinal would be tough. Our strategy was to create movements and attack New Zealand in chaotic situations. I think we succeeded in creating chances and defending excellently throughout the game,” Rodu said.
He added, “They scored right after halftime, and we unfortunately missed a penalty a few minutes later. Despite having many scoring opportunities, we couldn’t level the match.”
Rodu commended his players for sticking to the game plan, highlighting their courage and belief in competing against strong teams like New Zealand.
“I hope they see this performance as a new chapter in their playing careers,” Rodu stated. Reflecting on his own coaching experience, he mentioned, “Playing against New Zealand takes me out of my comfort zone and challenges me to improve my style. Yesterday was a great opportunity to apply our football beliefs.”
Rodu acknowledged that a lapse in concentration led to conceding the goal but regarded New Zealand as a benchmark in Oceania football. “For me, it’s been a great journey, spending six weeks with the boys who have worked tremendously hard to reach this stage.”
The Junior Bula Boys will face the Solomon Islands in the third-place playoff on Thursday.