Three consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup™ qualifications have placed Sunil Kumar at the heart of one of the most successful periods in Fiji’s youth football history.
The Head Coach of the Fiji U-16 and U-17 men’s national teams, as well as Head of Talent Development at Fiji FA, Kumar is helping provide three generations of young Fijian footballers with the opportunity to experience the game at the highest level on the world stage.
“Qualifying for three FIFA U-17 World Cup’s will have a massive impact on the future of football in Fiji,” says Kumar. “Three generations of Fijians will be going to a World Cup, and just being able to participate, can benefit a player mentally and physically.”
Today, Kumar is helping shape the future of Fijian football, but his own story began in the football-mad town of Ba, where he was first introduced to the game that would go on to define his life.
“Anyone from Ba has to love football,” Kumar says. “I enjoyed watching football when I was young. I think it was my dad who first inspired me to go and watch.”
“I used to play youth football for Ba, as well as regional and national youth teams. My interest in the sport grew from there.”
It was under the tutelage of veteran Fijian coach Yogendra Dutt that Kumar thought he could one day coach himself. Dutt was the coach of Fiji’s senior men’s national team in 2010, but coached Kumar when he was a young player growing up in Ba.
“Yogendra taught me a lot of things. He used to inspire me when I saw him coach and taught me how to tie my bootlaces when I was young.”
“He remains an inspiration for me even now and continues to guide and support me in my coaching journey.”
Kumar started coaching when he became a schoolteacher, beginning a journey which saw him lead Ba’s youth team, join the youth national team set-up as an assistant, and eventually be appointed head coach of the U-16 and U-17 national teams. He has also done some coaching at senior level too, for local powerhouse club Ba FC, and to assist with senior Fiji national team training camps.
Drawing on his experience as a schoolteacher, Kumar’s coaching vision is based around the development of character first, ahead of technical skill.
“One of the biggest driving factors of my philosophy is connection before correction. I always believe in connecting with the people, my players, the environment and the culture before I can start with the correction.”
“I always teach my players how to become better people, before they can be better players. I like to teach some of the core values of life like honesty, humility, and respect. I think this is really a key motivator for me and my players.”
There are huge differences between coaching at senior level and age-group level, but ones that Kumar also embraces in his role.
He sees himself as a guardian for his U-16 and U-17 teams, and someone that his players can rely on and trust, even with issues and matters off the pitch.
“They need a lot of attention, guidance, and support, I would say. You can’t just be the coach. You also have to be a teacher, their mother, their father, and their caretaker. You must be a little bit of everything for them.”
The opportunity to lead Fiji to three FIFA U-17 World Cup’s is therefore a source of immense pride for him, and a life-changing experience for the players selected.
He points out Maikah Dau as an example of a player whose exposure to the world stage last year has already hugely benefitted him. Dau was the youngest professional player in the first edition of the OFC Pro League with Bula FC earlier in 2026 and was also recently called up for the senior national team for the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, scoring his first senior international goal in a 3-3 draw with the Solomon Islands in Suva.
“Maikah Dau was the captain for the Under-16 team when we qualified for the World Cup for the first time at OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2024 in Tahiti. This year he was part of the OFC Pro League with Bula FC. You can see the massive difference that having exposure at a higher level at the FIFA U-17 World Cup has had on him.”
Fiji qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2025 and will appear at the tournament again in 2026 and 2027, after a trio of top three finishes at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship. They’ll play Spain, Morocco, and China, when they participate in their second consecutive edition of the tournament in Qatar in November this year.
To reach the world stage though, Kumar has had to make a lot of sacrifices. Travelling to coach and compete has meant missing out on significant family time with his wife and two children.
“My wife has always supported me as a coach, and I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of time with her and my kids,” says Kumar. “I also must thank my parents. All my family always support and motivate me.”
For all the time he has given to the sport and the development of Fiji’s next generation of football players, he also reflects on the life that football has given him.
“Football has given me energy in my life. It inspires me every day. It also gives me a reason to live, to perform, and to do better.”
“It has helped me connect with lots of people in different places, who I will call lifelong friends. Football is life. I cannot think of my life without football.”
Now as he prepares to lead Fiji to their second FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in Qatar this November, his hope is that he can inspire many more youngsters to take up the sport of football.
Voices of Oceania
The Voices of Oceania campaign builds on OFC’s celebrations of World Football Day and World Football Giving Day in May 2026, by highlighting the positive change being made in Oceania by football.
Each month OFC will highlight an individual working within one of the region’s member associations, associate members, or communities; to celebrate the impact they have made and demonstrate the Power of Football across Oceania.
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek