Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, expressed that his team faces a challenging task ahead of their match against New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final on Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti. While acknowledging that New Zealand is the favorite to win, Kumar remains optimistic about his team’s chance to pull off an upset.
“Our goal when we entered this tournament was to create history,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but we have achieved that milestone. Now, we aspire to win the championship as well.”
Kumar emphasized the importance of playing with a clear mindset, urging his players to give their best effort. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for the boys and the team,” he added.
New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, has proven to be a formidable opponent, having convincingly defeated Fiji 7-1 in group play after coming from behind. New Zealand has shown impressive performance throughout the tournament, scoring 28 goals and conceding only one across four matches.
Bullock commented on the previous encounter with Fiji, recognizing their victory as a factor in their favored status for the final. “We took a lot from our group match against Fiji and are aware of their style of play. Likewise, they will have insights into our approach. We aim to exploit any advantages while focusing on our own game plan,” he said. “Reaching a final is always significant, no matter the competition, and our goal is to win.”