Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges the challenges ahead as his team prepares to face New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final on Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Kumar recognizes that New Zealand enters the match as the clear favorite, yet he remains hopeful that his squad can achieve an upset.
“Our aim coming into this tournament was to make history,” Kumar stated, highlighting that Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup before this tournament. “We’ve accomplished that, but we also aspire to win the championship.”
Kumar expressed the significance of this upcoming match, stating, “Now we have a dream within reach. We plan to approach the game with a clear mind and give our best effort. This is a tremendous opportunity for the boys and the team.”
On the other hand, Martin Bullock, coach of New Zealand, leads a team bolstered by their previous performance, where they defeated Fiji 7-1 in the group stage after initially trailing. New Zealand has demonstrated their prowess by scoring 28 goals while conceding just one throughout four matches.
“We have already faced Fiji and won that game, making us the favorites,” Bullock remarked. “Our performance has been impressive, and we will apply lessons learned from the group match against Fiji. They are also aware of how we play, so we will strategize to exploit any advantages.”
Bullock emphasized the importance of the final, stating, “No matter the competition, every team wants to win when they reach the final. We are eager for the match.”