STAR footballer Lionel Messi once said “You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.”
No wonder he is among the revered and worshipped figures of global football.
He is a role model to millions of people all over the world, especially children.
His touch of football is magical and grandstands erupt with his mesmerising moves among opposing teams accompanied by chorus of cheers. It adds flavour to his popularity and fans are not satisfied watching him grace football fields. They want more.
Here at home, Vodafone Fiji Bati, Fiji Residents, Nasinu Titans rep and Nabua Broncos Rugby League Club member, Pio Maisamoa Seci, 24, is running towards the same success.
He has an extended version to Messi’s quote. He said he had “Faith.”
The word is tattooed on his right hand bicep. On the left hand various tattoos with Itaukei concepts.
“Faith is tattooed here for a meaning,” he said, flashing his muscle accompanied with a broad smile. The bicep showed years of training – big and tough. Men always compare their biceps with buns, the bigger and muscular shows the fitness of the holder. It always has its sex appeal too by the way.
“This tattoo reminds me of the things that I went through, the difficulties I faced, the hardships and my ups and down. The ones on the left are to remind me all the time that I am an Itaukei and we take pride in what we believe in, our culture, family and vanua.
“Life has been a struggle for me, but my ‘Faith’ tattoo has opened doors for me because I have faith that I can achieve better things.
“It has a religious and physical motivation. It reminds me of everything.
“I got the tattoo three years ago when I started this journey by sacrificing a lot of things and having faith in the direction I am travelling to be a Fiji Bati in this Rugby League World Cup.”
He said he had sacrificed a lot in the past years as he tried to be a Fiji Bati in next month’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
“I was born and bred in Suva and would love to go visit my village in Lau someday. My mother is from Wailevu, Tunuloa, and my parents are Sereana and Tuimasi Seci. I only have a sister, who is called Tagimoucia. For me, the passion for rugby league started when I was really young, maybe when I was 12 years old. I grew up in Nabua and my love for the game started by watching the Nabua Broncos team train and I used to follow them wherever they play. It was a thrill to watch those players run and smash into each other. The game is physical and tough. It takes a lot of courage to play. It is like separating boys from men when you play rugby league. I played rugby union, but since playing rugby league, this game is a lot tougher.
“I am getting closer to that dream. I have become a Fiji Bati and I am excited now that after all those years of struggle and sacrifices as guided by faith. I am ready to try for a position in the Fiji Bati. I have trained well. I just can simply wait for the Battle of the Bati .
“I play centre and second row and I know I will be trying those positions with some of the best players in the NRL who are Fiji Bati players. They are Waqa Blake, Korbin Sims, Jason Bukuya and some others. They are good players, but with my faith as I tattooed three years ago, we journeyed through rough times to be here today and have the opportunity to try to be in the world cup.”
His dream could come true. Blake and Sims are could be ruled out because of injury and considering his performance since becoming a Fiji Bati in the Pacific Test last year and the Test against Samoa in Apia.
Seci will be among players next Wednesday in the East vs West match called the Possible vs Probables at the ANZ Stadium in Suva at 2pm to select the Residents team to meet the Overseas Fiji Bati to select the national side to the Rugby League Tri-Nations between Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, and the RLWC.
“I will do my best because all the local boys also want to play in the world cup. It will be tough, but it’s one of the most important steps to the world cup. This is what I had sacrificed for.”
On paper, the Vodafone Fiji Bati will be a star-studded line-up in Australia.
“Fiji will be able to win all its pool games because we have some of the best players in the sport. As I try a spot in the Fiji Bati during the Battle of the Bati, I call on the people of Oneata to support and pray for me. I am not doing this for myself. I am playing for my family, the Fiji rugby league family, the people of Oneata and Vanua Levu and all Fijians.”
Seci is expected to team up with brothers Mosese and Etuate Qionimacawa, Jowasa Drodrolagi, Filipe Talei and Etuate Tagicakibau in the East team. Profile
Full name: Pio Seci
Village : Oneata, Lau
Age: 24.
Club: Nabua Broncos
