PLAYING soccer was not a choice but a commitment to restore hope and pride for Iosefo Verevou’s mother.
Verevou is part of Team Fiji soccer being selected to represent the country at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Rewa lad was only a kid when his dad left the family 19 years ago leaving his mum to raise him and his siblings.
Witnessing the struggle and heartaches faced by his mum, Verevou often wished to have all the money in the world to help support his mother.
Being a young boy then, his only option was soccer. He wanted to use the sport as a source of income for family.
Verevou was hurt to see the struggle endured by his mum each day and had set his goal to become a successful soccer player.
“I come from a poor background,” he said.
“My dad left us while I was young and my mum has been there all along supporting the family which include three boys and a girl.
“And for me during those early days I had nothing except soccer.
“Soccer was the only thing in my mind then and I wanted to use the sport to support my family.
“This motivated me to work hard.”
Verevou followed his older brother to afternoon training and most of the time he joined in.
His brother, Epeli Saukuru, used to play for the Nadroga soccer team then.
“I always accompanied my brother to soccer training every afternoon and it was here that my passion for the sport blossomed.
“I worked my ways up the ladder starting from primary school level until I got my big break of being selected to represent the country in the national under-12 soccer team to Noumea.”
He was later selected to represent the country for the U12 competition in France and returned home to make his debut for the Rewa team while in Year 9.
“Being selected to represent the nation was a proud moment for me and the family,” he said.
“The Fiji selection motivated me to work hard and I made a commitment to fully utilise my God-given talent.”
Verevou was only 14 years old when he made his national league debut for Rewa against Tavua. He did not disappoint and scored a goal for the Delta Tigers to help his team win.
There was no turning back for Verevou as he maintained his spot in the main Rewa team. His impressive performance caught the eyes of the national selectors and was picked to represent the country at the national U17 and U20 teams.
At the U20 soccer World Cup in New Zealand last year, Verevou hit the headlines of overseas and local newspapers scoring Fiji’s first goal at a World Cup. And the icing on the cake is the goal he scored was against World Cup champion Germany.
“I believe the goal against Germany is one of the best moments of my soccer career.”
He later scored a goal against Honduras in their second game to help create a history of winning its first ever World Cup game.
He returned for Rewa in the national league before being included in the Fiji team late last year.
Verevou engraved his name in the history book for being part of the 60 members Fiji U23 team to prepare for the Rio Olympics.
His impressive form and skills convinced head coach Frank Farina for a spot in the travelling 18-member team — an achievement Verevou attributed to her mum.
Verevou said he could not believe to be playing soccer at the Olympics but was humbled to have fulfilled his childhood dream.
“I did not believe to play at the Olympics,” he said.
“My only aim was to become a soccer player and through the sport I have provided food for the family.
“At the moment, my family solely depended on me for living and I am grateful that soccer is now our bread and butter.
And as Verevou and his teammates depart the country for the Rio Olympics today, the national striker has every reason to give his best shot knowing his number one fan (mother) will be glued to the TV watching him in action.
Most importantly he will be using the Olympics to showcase his soccer talent for the world to see and the moment for his mum to cherish.
