Waisale “Small” Serevi stood proud at the Isa Lei Resort in Suva while receiving the 1990 Sportsman of the Year Award, giving rugby the top spot for the second time.
In an article reported by The Fiji Times on December 8, 1990, Serevi dedicated his rugby glories to his 54-year-old mum, Sisilia, saying without her endless support he would have never achieved the award.
Holding back tears after his mother congratulated him, Serevi said: “Mum…this is for you. My years of playing rugby have never been in vain and I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices you have made in making this happen.”
Chief judge Sir Moti Tikaram named Serevi alongside athletics’ Mereoni Vibose who was unavailable to collect her award.
Fiji Amateur Athletics Federation secretary Atma Maharaj, who collected the award on behalf of Vibose, said Mereoni was training for the following year’s South Pacific Games in Sydney and was unable to make it to the event. He said athletics had never been so proud before as they were now.
“This is one of our greatest moments and we salute Vibose for this great achievement,” he said, stressing that the 39-year-old graphic artist’s character was hard to come by nowadays.
Athletics’ James Goulding was named runner-up to Serevi while international Secondary School and swimming nominee Angela Brich was second to Vibose. Serevi represented Rewa in 1988, making his mark in the XVs game and breaking his way on to the national and international scene in the South Pacific Championships.
He played against England the same year and in 1989 made the squad that toured Europe which included Belgium, France, Scotland and England.
He also represented Fiji for the first time in 7s rugby in Sicily and in Hong Kong. Although Fiji lost out that year, Serevi stole all the glory by taking out the best player title.
In 1990, with Fiji winning the Hong Kong tournament — the game played by almost every rugby playing nation — rugby stole the limelight.
Vibose, whose records were not challenged in any way by the other 12 women vying for the crown, stole the limelight in the Mobil Oceania Athletics Championship after winning the javelin gold.
