GROWING up in a staunch Christian family, and a member of the Assemblies of God church worship team in Labasa, Viniana Riwai often prayed for an opportunity to play for her country in any sport one day.
Now at 25, many years later, this young woman from Biaugunu, Saqani in Cakaudrove, has achieved that, and more.
Not only has she represented her district and Fiji in football, she has proudly donned the white jersey on a few occasions after her international 7s rugby debut at the China sevens in Guangzhou in 2014.
Riwai, 25, is the eldest of three girls and one boy ? born to very proud parents Maika Riwai and Marisela Raleba of Nakasaleka, Kadavu.
The first five-eighth began her sporting career in soccer, representing three-time northern secondary school champ Labasa Muslim College before she was selected to the Labasa team that won the IDC two years in a row in 2012 and 2013.
Asked what prompted her interest in soccer, she said she loved sports, any sport.
When she moved to Suva to further her studies at the University of the South Pacific, there was a general call for interested young women who were keen on representing the institution at the inter-tertiary games.
She entered.
From this training session, officials from the Marist Seahawks club spotted her, and her rugby journey has never slowed since then.
She made her presence felt in such a short time, representing Fiji in the international arena, first wearing the white 7s jersey in Guangzhou, China, then the Rugby World Cup in Moscow, Russia, and now her best preparation ever ? the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“When I wore the Fiji rugby jersey for the first time, I thanked the Lord first,” Riwai said.
“And I thought was my parents and I am so indebted to them, for supporting me and my siblings.”
She said she had never been nervous whenever she ran out to the field to play.
“In the spirit of competition, I was always confident and excited at the same time that I was playing rugby for my country.
“Even when I switched from soccer to rugby, not for one minute did I feel any sense of fear, that I should be afraid because of the tough nature of the rugby sport. So when I was named in the first line up, I was confident of representing my country.”
Quickly recalling how she used to pray to represent Fiji in any sport was now being realised “and I thank God continuously today for helping me realise those dreams”.
In an interview with Times Sport during their camp at Uprising Beach Resort, Riwai said her commitment was always the same in whatever sport she participated or competed in.
“I always give it everything I got because I’ve enjoy the sport while I am playing it so I think that what gives me the drive and the energy to give my best when I am on the field.”
Riwai is with her teammates and coaching officials training in Chile, awaiting their first match on August 6.
While the journey to be included in the national 7s team was tough, she said the journey had been worth it.
“My mission on this Rio Games now is to come back with gold because I am going there,
“I am not only representing myself but my family and the entire population of our country.
“Also, this is the first time a women’s team is being represented in rugby at the Olympic Games so I reassured myself that my mission is to help our team return with the gold medal.
“The only challenge for us is to maintain and keep improving our fitness level.”
Riwai misses her family, having not seen them for the past year now with the busy rugby schedules.
But she is adamant to fight on the pitch for them and her motherland, a huge motivation for her to “be the best I can be to make my family proud”.
