FOOTBALLER legend Pele once said “Everybody knows my life. I won a lot of tournaments and scored more than 1000 goals, won three World Cups but I could not play in the Olympic Games”.
For Pele not being able to take part in the Olympics may be one of the events he failed to take part in, but for Fijian footballer Setareki Hughes, it was a dream come true to be part of the biggest sporting event.
As a result of him being part of Fiji’s contingent at the event, he not only takes that as a story to tell for his future generations but made a mark that will prove he was a Olympian.
The former Fiji under-20 striker made a tattoo of a the Olympic Games logo and the Fijian canoe with the Fiji wordings and below — Rio 2016.
He says the tattoo will remind him throughout his life of what he achieved with the humble group of footballers in the Fiji football team who made their debut at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
They say tattoo are like a timeline of life. It could look at a certain tattoos, and it reminds people of a certain time in their life and why they got that tattoo.
Its like stories — they’re symbolic of the important moments in life. Sitting down, talking about where you got each tattoo and what it symbolises, is really beautiful.
“The tattoo will be on my body for life so it could be a remembrance clue to my children when they see that.
“Every time when I will see the tattoo, it will remind me the hardship and the difficulties I had to go through in order to play in the Olympics,” he said.
“It will remind me that I was there and played for my country. It was my wife’s and my decision to make the tattoo and I am proud to have that on my body.
“I made the tattoo at a tattoo shop in Suva for $80 and it took about 20 minutes for them to make it. I got the design from my Olympics shorts and it was a proud moment to play in the event.
“Even when we scored a goal against Mexico and we were leading until half time.”
Hughes, 22, was also named the 2016 Fijian footballer of the year last month. He started his football career with Nasinu Youth team before moving to Rewa and then shifted his camp to Suva last year.
“It was a very good experience and I still have got my jerseys at home and it is for my pregnant wife Asenaca Ratumaitavuki and my child who is expected to be born in June,” he said.
“I also got the boot which I wore at the Olympic Games as well.”
At a glance
Setareki Hughes was born on June 8, 1995 and is a Fijian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Suva in the National Football League.
International career: Hughes was selected for the Fiji national under-20 team to compete at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in May 2015.
He played in all three of Fiji’s group matches against Germany, Honduras and Uzbekistan. On 28 May 2016, he made his senior debut for the national team at the 2016 OFC Nations Cup in their 3-1 loss against New Zealand.
He was then also selected as part of the Fiji under-23 team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
