IT was not an option. He was trapped between two of the most precious things in his life. A career or to walk in the doorstep of love with nothing to stop him from doing so. He lied so he could achieve both, playing rugby and at the same time have a loving wife beside him.
This fairytale can be a love story of a rugby player but for France-based Levani Botia he could not let either rugby slip off his hands nor compromising losing the love of his life.
Botia did not mention to his long-time sweetheart that he was a rugby player until things got out of hand as his partner did not like rugby players.
Botia’s wife Emele Veivuke said she was thankful for the television or otherwise she would have not known that Botia was a rugby player.
“When I first met him, he told me that he was a prison officer but he lied to me. Out of all our conversation, he didn’t mention that he was playing rugby,” Veivuke said.
“In the first instance in 2011, he told me that he had to go to Nadi to attend a workshop.
“Little did I realise, he was representing the country in the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.
“I came to know about his rugby career when I saw him on television playing rugby. I was so upset and angry with him.”
Just like the saying goes, everything is fair in love and war, and after accepting the truth, she became his biggest fan.
“After two months I cooled down then I was ready to support him and his rugby.
“He then joined the Fiji 7s team and he was also playing for Namosi.
“I had to go and watch him play and supported him around the country.”
The Naivucini native from Naitasiri did not walk on a bed of roses to stardom, he had walked for miles in the scotching heat just for the passion towards the sport he keeps close to his heart.
“I could not continue with my school after finishing my class eight education because I was more in rugby.
“After some years I decided to move to Suva and the hardship continued for me.
“I didn’t have bus fare and that time the bus fare was $1.20 so I had to think wisely how I would cater for my expenses.
“So every day after lunch I used to put on my shoes and walk to Suva from Nakasi for training. “With $1.50 in my pocket for my fare back, my dream was bigger than what I have with me.
The 26-year-old also played for the Suva development side before playing for City Eagles.
Former national coach Waisale Serevi spotted him and developed him further before getting a break into the 7s side to the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia.
“Playing in Hong Kong 7s will always be a special moment in my life.
“I’ve read it in papers and watched it on TV when I was small but playing there was a different atmosphere for me,” he enthused.
“After coming back from the tournament last year I received a call from Sireli Bobo.
“He asked me if I want to go to France and I was double minded since I was working here in the prison and thought it would be hard.
“What if I don’t get the contract after three months but then he told me that would never happen.
“Bobo have been motivating me on every step of my life and encourages me to play. After seeing me for the first time playing for my club he told me that I can do this because the way I was performing. He guided me like a brother and showed me the right way.
“I was brought up by my grandfather and my mother since I was raised by a single parent.
“This has also motivated me to work hard after getting old, no one would see my hardship.
“My loving and beautiful wife is my number one supporter and she always encourages me to walk the extra mile.”
The former Fiji 7s captain suffered a serious knee injury which could have ended his rugby career while playing for Namosi.
“I had a very bad injury when I was playing for Namosi after sustaining a serious knee injury and I thought my career has come to an end. But I underwent surgery and slowly I recovered.
“It was a miracle but when I first went to France to pursue my career I had to go through medical tests.
“They (medics) asked me for how long have you been playing the sport with the injured knee. I replied two years and they were surprised and told me that the rugby career of players in France would end with a similar kind of injury.
“May be it was the plan of the Almighty God to take care of me and keep me going in rugby. I always refused to get my knees strapped as the Lord is taking care of me.
“During the surgery, the doctors didn’t explain to me what the problem was apart from telling me that it is a small issue but I came to know how serious it was after the surgery.
Botia has made his plan to play for the Flying Fijians in this year’s edition of the Rugby World Cup in England.
He is also backed by his biggest fan that stood beside him in every decision he made.
“I’m very happy for him that he has intentions of playing in the Rugby World Cup. After seeing the names in the papers I asked him if he could make it.
“He replied ‘yes I can do it’.
“I have faith in him and as long as there is trust we can do it together.
“I have been supporting him in every decision he makes,” the mother of two said.
