When the final whistle blew at the 3rd place play-off at the OFC U-16 Championship, the Fiji bench erupted. Tears, hugs, and songs filled the stadium.
For the second time in as many years, Baby Bula Boys had booked their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
And at the center of it all stood Sunil Kumar, the coach whose quiet determination has reshaped the nation’s footballing destiny.
In 2024, Kumar’s young side shattered a long-standing barrier, guiding Fiji to its first-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification.
That achievement not only made history but also proved that Fiji could compete with Oceania’s best.
Later this year, Fiji will make its long-awaited debut on the world stage at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar—a momentous occasion for the players, the coach, and the entire nation.
This year’s OFC U-16 Championship, captained by the composed and hardworking Maikah Dau, was the stage where Fiji secured their second consecutive qualification.
The team swept through their group matches with confidence, playing with discipline and flair. In the semifinal, heartbreak came in the form of a penalty shootout defeat to New Caledonia. But Kumar’s words reminded the boys their journey wasn’t over.
In the third-place playoff, Fiji rallied. Dau’s leadership anchored the side as they fought past Papua New Guinea with a narrow but decisive 1–0 victory—a result that booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Kumar is not a coach who shouts the loudest. Instead, he builds belief through values he calls the “4Fs”: Faith, Fearless, Family, and Fiji. His players recite them like a mantra—faith in the process, fearless on the pitch, family in the dressing room, and Fiji, the badge on their chest and the heartbeat of their cause.
This philosophy translates into a style of play that is disciplined yet daring. Defensively compact, tactically organized, but always ready to strike with courage. “Tabu soro,” Kumar often reminds them—never give up.
For Kumar, coaching is about more than wins. Many of his players are teenagers leaving home for the first time, and he understands the importance of guiding them both on and off the field. He instills discipline, respect, and resilience, preparing them not just as footballers but as young men. “These boys will become men, fathers, leaders,” he once said. “If football shapes them into better people, then we’ve truly won.”
Now, attention turns again to Qatar 2025, where Fiji will step onto a FIFA World Cup stage for the very first time. For Kumar’s young squad, the tournament represents more than competition—it is an education, a showcase, and a proving ground. Drawn against some of the world’s most established football nations, Fiji will likely face teams with greater resources and pedigree. But Kumar sees opportunity where others see challenge. His goal is to instill fearlessness in his boys—to attack games with pride, defend with discipline, and learn from every minute on the field.
Exposure to international football will be invaluable, offering higher-tempo matches, varied playing styles, and the intensity of global crowds. For the players, it is a chance to measure themselves against the best, while for Fiji Football, it is a stepping stone to building stronger pathways at home.
As Fiji prepares for its first FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance in Qatar in 2025 and looks ahead to Qatar 2026, Sunil Kumar’s legacy is already secure.
He has guided a small island nation from dreamers to contenders, proving that discipline, spirit, and vision can deliver extraordinary results. And as the Baby Bula Boys march forward, captained by Maikah Dau and driven by their unshakable tabu soro spirit, their coach remains the steady hand behind it all—fuelled by faith, fearless in ambition, bound by family, and forever proud to represent Fiji.
