Fiji’s Under-16 football coach, Sunil Kumar, acknowledges the 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 will be the favorites, but remains hopeful that Fiji can pull off an upset.
“We aimed to create history by participating in this tournament,” Kumar stated. “Fiji has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and we have achieved that. Now, we desire to win the championship as well.”
Kumar emphasized the importance of playing freely and giving their best effort. “This is a unique and significant opportunity for the boys and for the team,” he added.
On the other hand, New Zealand, coached by Martin Bullock, is coming off a strong performance, having previously defeated Fiji 7-1 in group play. The team has demonstrated remarkable form, scoring 28 goals and conceding just one in four matches.
“We have already played against Fiji and won that match, which likely establishes us as favorites,” Bullock mentioned. “We’ve performed exceptionally well, and we are aware of how Fiji will play, just as they know our style.”
Bullock noted that in any final, regardless of competition — whether club or international football — the goal is always to win. He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming match.