THERE was no one happier than Asinate Ravouvou when the sevens rugby came live on television over the weekend.
Her story of heartache, struggle and endurance as a single mum — as moving and big as the game Vatemo Ravouvou played for the Vodafone Fiji 7s team — is what she draws on for strength every time she sees him.
The resumption of World Rugby’s live feed of the HSBC World Sevens Rugby Series to Fiji from the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, brought back her smile.
This 55-year-old mum has never missed any of his games since primary school and she prayed to see her boy live on the box after the live feed ban on the last leg in Dubai.
She can’t live without her son’s rugby because it has been their saviour.
When she left her partner in Australia 19 years ago with her son, the little boy whose hand she led back home promised he would become a rugby star and change their lives.
“I feel emotional every time I see Vouvou (Vatemo) in action for the Fiji 7s team,” said Asinate.
“We went through a lot of hard times and, honestly, single-handedly raising my son the past 19 years has not been an easy task.”
“We cried and laughed together to give him the desire of his heart, that’s representing the country in rugby.”
Her struggle was repaid when coach Ben Ryan selected Vatemo in his brigade to take on the rest of the world in the 2014-2015 series and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
She said it was the fulfilment of that little boy’s promise and his wish to be like his cousin Ilaitia Ravouvou and uncle Serupepeli Tuvula.
Former Fiji flyhalf Ilaitia Ravouvou is Vatemo’s first cousin while Tuvula is Asinate’s younger brother.
With rugby in his blood and a supportive mum as his biggest fan, Vatemo has risen to success and become the man of his house.
After his selection in the white jumper, the 24-year-old renovated and extended their family Saunaka Village home in Nadi and bought a car.
His mother’s loyalty to his dream — since his schoolboy days at Namaka Public School to his big break while at Ratu Navula College, where he was named in the Fiji U18 team — had spurred him on the rugby paddocks wherever Fiji plays.
Asinate said her sacrifice was finally paying off.
“I never missed any of his game from primary school level until today,” said Asinate.
“I wanted to give him the support he deserved to fulfil his dream and I broke into tears when he was first selected in the Fiji 7s team.”
She believes his humble beginning at the village taught Ravouvou a lot and he is now returning the favour.
“His childhood experience taught him to be responsible,” said Asinate. He is a good listener which enabled him to fulfil his rugby dream.”
Asinate added Vatemo, who is also a Nadi rugby rep, also had the support of his dad who he sometimes visits in Australia.
