Fiji’s Under-16 football coach Sunil Kumar acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead as his team prepares to face New Zealand in the final of the OFC U16 Championship this Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti.
Kumar recognizes that New Zealand will likely be the favorites, but he remains optimistic about his team’s potential to pull off an upset. He stated, “When we came to this tournament, we said we wanted to create history. Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but we managed to achieve that. Our goal also includes winning the championship.”
With an opportunity to make history, Kumar emphasizes the importance of playing freely. “We want to give our best shot. 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, having previously defeated Fiji 7-1 in the group stage. They have demonstrated impressive form in the tournament, scoring 28 goals while allowing just one in four matches.
Bullock acknowledged their prior victory over Fiji, which enhances their status as favorites. “We know how they are going to play and can draw from our previous match. We will strategize to capitalize on that while ensuring we play our game,” he explained. “Regardless of the competition, when you reach a final, the aim is to win. We are excited about the upcoming match.”