Fiji U16 Head Coach Sunil Kumar and his team experienced a surge of emotion as they surpassed expectations to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Tahiti. In a challenging match played on Tahitian soil, Veleni Rasorewa emerged as the standout player, scoring both goals in Fiji’s 2-1 victory.
Kumar commended the team’s collective effort, despite Rasorewa being named man of the match. He emphasized, “Everyone played their roles, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. That’s how we secured the two goals. Veleni Rasorewa got the man of the match award, but it was the whole team that contributed.”
Looking back at an earlier defeat to New Zealand during the pool stages, Kumar recalled how he urged his players to tackle their rivals with renewed determination. “After losing to New Zealand in the pool game, I challenged the boys to face them head-on again. Now in the final, we will refocus and strategize against New Zealand,” he said.
As the team gears up for the final, they remain dedicated to carrying their momentum forward and are eager to take on New Zealand once more.