Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges that his team will face a tough challenge in the OFC U16 Championship final against New Zealand on Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Kumar recognizes that New Zealand enters the match as the favorites but remains hopeful that Fiji can pull off an upset.
“We aimed to create history when we arrived at this tournament,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we have managed to do that. However, we also aspire to win this championship.”
He added, “We have a dream in front of us, and as we approach the match, we plan to play with a free mind and give it our all. This is a tremendous opportunity for the boys and the team.”
On the other hand, New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, is seen as a strong contender, especially after defeating Fiji 7-1 during the group stage. Throughout the tournament, New Zealand has scored 28 goals while conceding only one over four matches.
“We have already faced Fiji and won that game, which likely makes us favorites,” Bullock said. “We performed exceptionally well, and we will take lessons from our previous encounter with Fiji. They are likely aware of our playing style, and we will strategize accordingly to leverage that in the final. No matter what the competition is—club or international—reaching a final means you want to win. We are eager for the game.”