LOVE conquers all and in some cases love gives a new lease of life by redefining a person and putting his or her life back on track.
Last Friday, Maria Matakibau stood by her man, former Fiji sevens playmaker, Ilai Tinai and made a lifetime commitment as they got married at the Suvavou House in Suva.
She makes no qualm about matters as she said that she loved him more than anything else and she has made a commitment to ensure that the player finds his form, get back into the national squad and perhaps fulfil an Olympic dream.
Tinai was dropped by national coach Ben Ryan at the beginning of the 2013/2014 World Sevens Series. Ryan said it was because of off-field indiscipline that he was doing that.
According to Ryan, off field matters had been affecting Tinai’s game and concentration at training.
“I am going to be with him all the way and make sure that he gets a chance to get back into the national squad,” Maria said.
“He deserves another chance and he has made a lot of changes to his life. He is performing better on the field now because the off field matters are no longer there.
“I am at his games and I support him in any way possible.”
Tinai reaffirmed what Maria said.
“She is there for me and with her support, I feel I can do anything. My game has improved and I hope to keep on playing, even if it is not the national team, I will keep on playing for my club,” he said.
The couple who met three years ago, wed at the Registrar of Marriages Office in Suvavou House on Friday.
Tinai wore a blue bula shirt with a black sulu while Maria wore lovely matching blue dress. The two parked their vehicle next to Holiday Inn and walked hand in hand to the office.
Tinai had played at the Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens at 8am, changed and came for the wedding and then he returned to help the Wardens Gold team.
There was excitement in their eyes as they entered the ‘marriage room’ and sat down. Maria holding back tears of joy as Tinai said his vows.
Maria said the commitment between the two was one for life and she had vowed she will help him climb up in his career and also in life.
She hinted that she was expecting a child as well.
Tinai at times has been the x-factor for the Fiji side. Coach Ben Ryan had said that he was one of his best players .
Tinai’s ability to play at halfback and playmaker makes him a dangerous opponent. He has the ability to spot gaps and run through the defensive lines. Even better is his stepping or goose-stepping which has the Fiji crowd excited.
When Ryan dropped Tinai he had said that the player was told what he needed to change.
“It’s important to have discipline within the squad and I’ve put in some strict rules. Sevens players are superstars in Fiji, and in the past that’s gone to some players’ heads. It’s important to behave appropriately, to set the right examples for those who are coming up behind them,” Ryan told Rugby World journalist Bea Aspray in 2013.
“I recently dropped one of our best players, Ilai Tinai, for off-pitch indiscipline. I sat him down and explained to him why I was doing it. It does have a ripple effect and comes out on the field. We were leading England in the Gold Coast quarter-final when Tinai got a yellow card, and then we lost the game. Though dropping a talented player may have a short-term effect on our results, it will be beneficial long-term.”
Whatever may have happened in the past, Tinai now seems to be a changed man, hopefully it is not too late for him to get back into the squad even if not for the Hong Kong, there is always the squad that will go to Rio.
He still has time.
