Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledged that his team faces a significant challenge against New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final this Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Kumar recognized that New Zealand enters the match as the clear favorites, but he remains optimistic about his team’s chances of pulling off an upset.
“Our goal in this tournament has been to create history,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we achieved that. Now, we want to win the championship.”
He emphasized the importance of approaching the match with a relaxed mindset, encouraging his players to give their best effort. “This is a huge opportunity for the boys and the team,” he added.
On the other side, New Zealand’s coach Martin Bullock is confident, having led his team to a 7-1 victory over Fiji in the group stage. New Zealand has an impressive record in the tournament, scoring 28 goals while conceding only one across four matches.
Bullock reflected on their previous encounter with Fiji, mentioning that the win positions them as favorites. “We performed incredibly well against them and will carry those insights into the final,” he said. He underscored the stakes of the final, noting that regardless of the competition, winning is the ultimate goal, and his team is eager for the match.