With Fiji competing at the tournament for the very first time the opening game was always going to be a nerve-racking occasion, made even worse given they had to face the host nation in front of a vocal crowd at the CIFA Academy in Matavera.
But with that out of the way captain Cecelia Nainima says her side can now back themselves in any situation they face for the remainder of the competition.
“It felt good to get that win, this is our first time here and to leave our shores and come here is a big load on our young shoulders,” 16-year-old Nainima says.
“We were quite happy with the game yesterday and very excited for the next one.
“We were really nervous the whole day. We woke up and were walking around thinking about the game and asking all of the staff at our hotel about the players in the Cook Islands team.
“Some of us were really scared, but as soon as the first half started we all fell into place in our positional play and then we knew we had the upper hand in the game.
“We should all be feeling much better than we were for the first one. We will be looking to play our best and shouldn’t be scared of anything now.”
Despite the nerves Fiji looked in control for the majority of the match, organising their defensive line well and taking their chances in front of goal at the other end.
Coach Yogendra Dutt says he always expected the team to take the challenge in their stride.
“It was not surprising how they reacted, they have been playing like that in our practice matches back in Fiji, but they handled themselves very well and did what we trained for,” Dutt says.
“We got through it successfully and are happy with that. It was a big relief because when you come to this type of tournament the first game is always the toughest one, especially when you have no experience at the competition.
“The win should have blown away our worries. The girls should be confident because the first game is a morale booster for the rest of the tournament.”
Fiji face a crucial match today against Vanuatu, where a victory will take them to the top of Group B pending the result of the Papua New Guinea vs. Cook Islands match.
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