Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges the tough challenge ahead as his team prepares to face New Zealand in the OFC U16 Championship final on Sunday in Pape’ete, Tahiti.
Kumar recognizes that New Zealand enters the match as the favorite, but he believes Fiji can still achieve an upset. “When we came to this tournament, we aimed to create history,” he stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we achieved that. But we also aspire to win the championship.”
Looking ahead to the match, Kumar emphasized the importance of playing with a free mindset. “We want to give our best effort,” he noted. “This is an incredible opportunity for the boys and our team.”
New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, is heavily favored after a dominant 7-1 victory over Fiji in the group stage. The team has scored a remarkable 28 goals while conceding only one in four matches.
Bullock reflected on their previous encounter with Fiji, stating, “We played well against them and that probably makes us the favorites. We will take lessons from that group game and prepare to exploit their weaknesses.” He added that in any final, regardless of the level of competition, the goal is to win, and his team is eager for the match.