Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges the challenge his team faces against New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final taking place in Pape’ete, Tahiti, on Sunday. While he recognizes New Zealand as the favorite, he believes his team can pull off a surprise.
Kumar expressed the team’s goal, stating, “When we came to this tournament, we said we wanted to create history.” He highlighted that Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, yet they have made significant progress in the tournament and are now aiming for the championship title. “Now we have a dream in front of us to achieve. I think going into the match, we will play with a free mind and give our best shot. There can never be a better or bigger opportunity than this for the boys and for the team,” he added.
On the other hand, New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, is the clear favorite, having previously defeated Fiji 7-1 in group play after overcoming an early deficit. The New Zealand team has demonstrated impressive scoring ability, netting 28 goals and allowing just one in their four matches.
Bullock noted, “We have played Fiji and won that game, which makes us favorites. I think we performed incredibly well. We will take insights from the previous group match to understand their play style.” He emphasized the importance of a final, stating that regardless of the competition, the goal is to win. “We are looking forward to the game,” he said.