Fiji’s U16 Head Coach Sunil Kumar and his squad experienced an emotional victory as they achieved qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Tahiti, surpassing expectations. The team played against Tahiti on their home turf, with Veleni Rasorewa emerging as the standout player by scoring both goals in a 2-1 triumph.
Kumar commended the overall performance of the team, despite Rasorewa receiving the man of the match award. He stated, “Everyone played their roles, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. That’s how we managed to score the two goals. Veleni Rasorewa got the man of the match, but it was truly a team effort.”
Reflecting on a previous defeat to New Zealand during the pool stages, Kumar shared that he motivated his players to confront their rivals with renewed determination. He noted, “After our loss to New Zealand in the pool game, I challenged the boys to go head-to-head again with NZ. Now, we will face them in the final, and we will refocus and counter New Zealand.”
As the team gears up for the final, they remain committed to sustaining their momentum in their upcoming challenge against New Zealand.