Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges the challenges 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 will be the favorites; however, he believes that Fiji can still pull off an upset.
“We came to this tournament with the mindset to create history,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we managed to achieve that, but we also aim to win the championship.”
He expressed their determination to approach the match with a clear mind, stating, “We want to give our best effort. This is a unique opportunity for the boys and the team.”
New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, enters as strong favorites after defeating Fiji 7-1 during the group stage, where they scored 28 goals and conceded only one in four matches. Bullock remarked, “Having already played against Fiji and winning that game makes us favorites. Our performance was exceptional, and we will apply what we learned from that encounter.”
He added, “Both teams are likely aware of each other’s strategies, and we will figure out how best to exploit that. In a final, regardless of the competition—club or international—you want to win. We are eager for the match.”