Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, emphasizes the importance of teamwork as the team prepares for the semifinal of the OFC U16 Championship. The Fijians secured their spot in the semifinals after overcoming Vanuatu with a 3-2 victory in Papeete, Tahiti. They finished second in Group A, trailing New Zealand.
Kumar acknowledged that Vanuatu had “nothing to lose” in their match. While he is pleased with the result, he believes the team must improve their performance, stating, “We came with the mindset to win.”
As they await the Group B results to determine their semifinal opponent, Kumar pointed out a few areas for improvement, including securing the second ball and maintaining their defensive structure. He stressed the need for the team to work cohesively.
Fiji’s striker Rishal Shankar was instrumental in the match, scoring a stunning free-kick goal and assisting Veleni Rasorewa for the decisive header that clinched the win. The OFC noted that semifinalists have multiple opportunities to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar next year. The top two teams from the tournament, alongside the winner of the third and fourth place playoff, will secure spots at the World Cup.
Vanuatu, needing to win by at least six goals to advance, started strong. They nearly scored in the 7th minute when a shot from Josaia Raikoso was deflected off the line for a corner. From that corner, Sakaria Manipen’s header found the net.
As the match progressed, Fiji gained momentum, with Shankar proving to be a constant threat. Their equalizer resulted from a defensive mishap by Vanuatu, where goalkeeper Marco Kalaku and Manipen collided, allowing Krishna Samy’s cross to find its way into the goal.
Fiji took the lead shortly before halftime with another goal from Shankar, who executed a perfect free-kick over the wall into the corner. Jefpta Taravaki, Vanuatu’s standout player in the first half, equalized seven minutes into the second half.
Both teams sought the winner, but significant opportunities were scarce until the 80th minute, when Rasorewa capitalized on a cross from Shankar, heading it in for the winning goal.