Fiji’s Under-16 football coach Sunil Kumar acknowledges the challenging road ahead as his team prepares to face New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final in Pape’ete, Tahiti, on Sunday.
Kumar recognizes New Zealand as the favorites but remains optimistic about Fiji’s chances of pulling off an upset. He expressed the team’s aspiration to make history, stating, “When we came to this tournament, we said we wanted to create history.” He highlighted Fiji’s previous challenge of never qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and emphasized their desire to win the championship.
With the final match on the horizon, Kumar encourages his players to approach the game with a clear mindset and a commitment to give their utmost effort. “There can never be a better or bigger opportunity than this for the boys and for the team,” he added.
New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, enters the match as strong favorites after defeating Fiji 7-1 in the group stage. The team has scored 28 goals and conceded only one in their four matches so far. Bullock noted that their previous encounter gives them a strategic advantage, but he also acknowledges that Fiji will be prepared for their style of play.
He emphasized the significance of the final, stating, “If you are in a tournament and you get to a final, you want to win. We are looking forward to the game.”