Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, anticipates a challenging match against New Zealand on Sunday for the OFC U16 Championship final in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Kumar acknowledges that New Zealand will be the favorites but holds faith that his team can create an upset.
“When we arrived at this tournament, we aimed to make history,” he stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we have achieved that. Our goal now is to win the championship.”
Kumar highlighted the importance of the upcoming match, expressing a desire for his team to play with freedom and to give their all. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for the boys and the team,” he added.
New Zealand’s coach, Martin Bullock, sees his team as strong contenders, having previously defeated Fiji 7-1 in group play. New Zealand has demonstrated remarkable performance throughout the tournament, scoring 28 goals while conceding just one in four matches.
“We have already faced Fiji and won that match, which puts us in the favorite position. Our performance was outstanding, and we learned a lot from that game,” Bullock commented. “Both teams are aware of each other’s playing styles. We will strategize on how to capitalize on that while staying true to our game plan. Regardless of the competition, being in a final means you aim to win, and we are eager for the match.”