Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, anticipates a challenging match against New Zealand on Sunday in the OFC U16 Championship final taking place in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Despite New Zealand being the favorites, Kumar remains hopeful that his team can pull off an upset.
“We came to this tournament aiming to make history,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but we have achieved that milestone. Our goal also includes winning this championship.”
Kumar expressed the importance of seizing this opportunity, emphasizing the need for his players to approach the match with a clear mindset and give their utmost effort. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for the boys and for the team,” he added.
New Zealand, led by coach Martin Bullock, enters the final as the clear favorites after having defeated Fiji 7-1 in their previous encounter during group play. The New Zealand team has showcased dominant performance, scoring 28 goals and allowing only one across four matches.
“We’ve already faced Fiji and won, which positions us as favorites,” Bullock noted. “Our performance was impressive, and we will utilize insights from our last match against them. We expect they will also have learned from that game. We’ll strategize to exploit any advantages while playing our game.”
Bullock emphasized the significance of the final, stating, “Regardless of the competition, reaching a final means you want to win. We are eager for the game.”