IT took nine years of patience, determination, belief and hardwork for Terio Tamani to finally live the dream of representing Fiji at the Olympic Games.
The nippy playmaker is the first from Ravitaki in Kadavu to ever don the Fiji 7s jumper and is also the first to ever play at an Olympic Games.
This feat was not easily attained as he faced disappointments, challenges and injuries throughout the years.
His long-time lover and wife Amalaini Senibua was with him in every step of the way, holding his hands through injuries and was his pillar of support during his bad days.
Senibua could not hold back her tears when sharing the struggles her husband overcame to get to the Olympics.
“We’ve known each other since our school days, and I saw first-hand the sacrifices he made to get here. When he came to Suva he was living with a relative and he didn’t have it easy. He would walk from home to wherever the team was training, he had no fare, but it did not stop him. He would walk to and from training everyday ensuring that he doesn’t turn up late,” she shared.
The Doi in Ono-I-Lau lass first met Tamani in 2012 and officially tied the knot in 2019.
Seeing the passion he had for rugby, Senibua took the stand of fulfilling the roles of a mum and dad to their two kids while Tamani chased his ambition.
“This was all God’s plan in his life. God saw his struggles and how much he wanted this. I think any person would have given up after missing selection so many times, but he was determined.
“At times I would tell him to give up and look for a stable job, but Teri remained committed. His first rugby club was Harlequins in Samabula and he would walk from there to Delaitokatoka in Valelevu, I would see how tired and worn out he was but everyday he got up to do it all over again so I told him go, chase your dreams, God gave you this talent and we can’t change that,” she added.
Senibua and their two kids Jayden, 6, and Leilani, 4, have not a missed a Fiji 7s game in Paris so far despite the early morning fixtures.
“He video called us when he was named in the Fiji 7s Olympic team, my kids cried tears of joy when they heard the news. The kids are so proud of their father because they understood how much work he has done to get to France.
“This morning (yesterday) in the match against Ireland, I just couldn’t stop crying, I was so emotional. Our home in Nasova was full of people and amid everyone cheering, I just broke down into tears seeing the scoreline at 19-15 and extra two minutes on the clock but when he kicked the ball out, I just had to return the glory back to God. I could see the relief in his face and that of his teammates because Ireland is a tough team to crack.”
The former Gospel High School student shared Tamani’s pre-game ritual where he would apologise to every member of his family.
Senibua also acknowledged the upbringing of Tamani’s parents who are in Ravitaki and the support of her family in backing her husband wherever he went to play.
