IT was a dream-come-true moment for Fiji’s under-16 football side as they lined up against some of the country’s biggest football names during their friendly clash against Rewa FC at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday.
Featuring several senior national representatives and Extra Bula FC players, the encounter provided the young squad with a valuable opportunity to test themselves ahead of next month’s OFC U16 World Cup qualifiers in Papua New Guinea.
Despite the nerves and rainy weather conditions, the youngsters rose to the occasion and held the Delta Tigers to a spirited nil-all draw.
National U16 head coach Sunil Kumar described the experience as a major boost for the team’s preparations.
“First of all, I think we were really privileged to play against a champion side like Rewa FC who have several national players and Bula FC players,” Kumar said.
“For us, this was a really good build-up match for our upcoming qualifiers for the U16 Football World Cup next month in Papua New Guinea.”
The young side initially struggled with the occasion, standing opposite players many of them had grown up watching and admiring on local football grounds around the country.
However, as the game progressed, confidence began to grow and the team matched the experienced Rewa outfit.
Kumar said the biggest gain from the match was the exposure and learning experience for the players.
“These are our takeaways, but the most important thing is to learn, progress and grow, hence the reason we had this match.”
