Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, anticipates a challenging match when they face New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final on Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Kumar acknowledges that New Zealand will be the favorite, but he believes Fiji can still pull off an upset.
“When we entered this tournament, our goal was to create history,” he stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we have achieved that. However, we also aimed to win the championship. Now, we have a significant opportunity ahead of us, and we want to give it our all. This is a unique chance for the boys and the team.”
New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, comes into the final as strong favorites after a previous meeting where they defeated Fiji 7-1 during group play. The New Zealand squad has demonstrated a powerful offense, scoring 28 goals while conceding just one in four matches.
“We have already faced Fiji, and winning that match likely puts us in the favorite’s position,” Bullock said. “We performed exceptionally well in that game and learned from it. We know how they will likely play, and they are aware of our style as well. We will strategize to capitalize on our strengths as we head into this final. Regardless of the type of competition, reaching a final signifies the desire to win. We are excited and prepared for the game.”