Fiji’s U16 Head Coach Sunil Kumar and his team experienced a surge of emotions as they exceeded expectations by qualifying for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Tahiti. The Fijian squad managed to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory against Tahiti on their home ground, thanks to the heroics of Veleni Rasorewa, who scored both goals of the match.
Kumar commended the collective effort of the entire team, even though Rasorewa was recognized as the man of the match. He stated, “Everyone played their roles, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. That is how we scored the two goals. While Veleni Rasorewa earned the man of the match title, it was truly a team effort.”
Looking back at an earlier defeat to New Zealand in the pool stages, Kumar shared how he motivated his players to rise to the challenge against their rivals. “After our loss to New Zealand in the pool game, I challenged the boys to go head-to-head with them again. Now, in the final, we will face them with renewed focus,” he said.
As the team gears up for the final match, their determination to maintain momentum and take on New Zealand once more remains steadfast.