While a lot of credit was given to the men’s 7s team for winning their second gold medal at the Olympic Games, I hope their families will be com- mended for staying by their men, and for providing them the sup- port, love and prayers that were needed for the back-to-back gold medal.
Our players are loving and caring. They have a soft spot. They have touched thousands of hearts on their way to glory. Most of them have had an upbringing that has infl uenced them to work hard and reach greater heights.
One such player is Napolioni Bolaca, whose dad Apimeliki Nasalo is the coach for the Waidigi 7s team. Nasalo shared that the Olympics had provided a great platform for his son.
A proud Nasalo stated that Bolaca wanted to emulate a 7s career such as Jerry, and that he told his son that more sacrifi ces would have to be made and he would have to work even harder to get to where Jerry was.
Nemia and Ulamila Wainiqolo, whose son Jiuta Wainiqolo made his Olympics debut and was Fiji’s top try scorer, made a lot of sac- rifi ces to see the son reach stardom. Jiuta started off as a football player, and then he switched to rugby. His parents rallied behind their son, and watched him represent RKS in the Eastern Zone competition and then the Deans final.
Jiuta’s parents were emotional when they heard that their son had made the cut for the Olympics – their faith and prayers had been rewarded. During the three-day tournament, they continued to pray for Jiuta and the team.
There were tears of joy when Jiuta and the boys scooped their back-to-back Olympics gold medal. Another star in the making is Sireli Maqala, and his parents, Sisa and Rosa Ramuadrau, who are from Labasa, shared Maqala’s journey to stardom.
Maqala was educated in Labasa, before joining RKS, and he was part of RKS’s Deans Trophy winning U18 rugby team. Sisa works at Labasa Hospital’s laundry department, while Rosa is based at the North Health Office. Both Sisa and Rosa have seen the good and bad days of their son’s rugby days.
Maqala was injured last year and the doctor told them that Maqala’s rugby days were over. However, they had faith in God and sought his divine intervention. Sisa shared on social media that he had seen the vision of the 7s team winning gold in Tokyo.
Both Rosa and Sisa have always stressed to Maqala the importance of communicating with God, and spending time with him. Adrea Walau and Makelesi Dugu, who are parents of ace playmaker Waisea Nacuqu, saw their son’s struggles after he dropped out of school in class six. They saw him cut sugarcane, before joining the national 7s team. They encouraged Nacuqu to work hard, be disciplined in life and to seek God in all the decisions that he made.
Nacuqu followed his parents’ footsteps and he attained success. Ratu Vuniani Derenalagi and Imeri Buli Derenalagi also played a vital role in their son’s success. Ratu Vuniani motivated Tumeli to go beyond what he (Vuniani) had achieved and never settle for anything less. Ratu Vuniani, played for QVS from 1989-1993, and he represent- ed Nadi and the Fiji 7s team.
Tumeli’s mother, Imeri, who has close ties to the late Patrick Tuidraki, shared that since Tumeli started playing for Nadi Kaji the family never missed his matches, and they supported him. They would wear T-shirts and fly flags and banners, and cheer for him at the top of their voices.
Tumeli’s family went with the QVS team wherever they played- such was their passion, support and commitment that they never missed any of his team’s matches. His dad set a standard, and he urged Tumeli to raise the standard.
The late Tuidraki encouraged and motivated Tumeli to do wonders in life.
Tumeli’s mother shared that their family house was decorated and painted blue with Fiji’s flags. She said they cheered loudly for Tumeli, and it was like they were sitting on the stadium and watching the Olympic Games. She added that they were confident that he was going to make the Olympics team and that the gold medal was coming to Fiji.
They had done the family T- shirts in honour of Tumeli – such was their high level of confidence in Tumeli and the belief in the team. Finally, Jerry’s parents have sacrificed so much to see their son reach this far.
They struggled to buy him his fi rst pair of boots, and they have always supported him. They always pray and fast when Jerry goes to play for Fiji.
The parents of our hero were excited, and were waiting for Jerry to return home. When the FRU bus carrying our 7s team entered Balgovind Rd in Nadawa, Nasinu there was a huge applause.
In Nawaka, Tumeli’s parents and relatives planned a feast in his honour and Nawaka Village was a sea of blue, as emotions ran high when the former QVS Deans winning star arrived home.
It’s time for our players to have quality family time with their families. The families of our 7s players have made endless sacrifices to support them and they have been their pillar of strength. They were separated for about six months.
Thus, I salute the players’ families for their endless, support, love, mercy, prayers and patience! These have been rewarded, and the reward has been sweet!
RAJNESH LINGAM is the head of department of language at Nabua Secondary School. He is also a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not of this newspaper or his employer.
