Four years ago, Mereoni Vonosere Namositava was selling vegetables and root crops at the Suva Municipal Market.
This Saturday, she will grace the world rugby stage as a utility back for the unbeaten Fijiana Drua as they go up against the NSW Waratahs women’s side in the Super W final at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.
And no one could be more proud of the Naivucini, Naitasiri villager than her mother, market vendor Vasenai Namositava.
She said Mereoni’s upbringing and humble beginnings laid the foundation for her current success in the sport. “Everything starts at home,” Vasenai said.
She said her now 23-year-old daughter attended Navuakece District School in Naitasiri and Nadi Arya Samaj Primary School before joining Adi Cakobau School to complete her secondary education from Year 9 to Year 13.
“She was given a place at Adi Cakobau School because of her involvement in sports. She was also part of the Coca-Cola Games athletics squad and netball team.”
Just like her parents, Mereoni began selling vegetables and root crops at the Suva market after graduating from high school in 2017.
“She was well aware of the village life, how to handle work at the plantation, and from the plantation to the market to sell garden produce.
“Even when all the vegetables and root crops were sold, she would clean the tables and store the chairs properly, in preparation for the next day of selling. She knew exactly what to do.”
Vasenai said apart from rugby, her daughter had only three units left to complete her Bachelor of Arts program majoring in Land Management at the University of the South Pacific.
“At the moment she is doing one 300 level unit online while in Australia and when she comes back, she will complete the two units in the next semester.
“She was also part of the USP netball team and USP touch rugby team.”
Vasenai said even while she was a university student, Mereoni would not shy away from selling at the market during her free time.
“After her classes, she would come to the market to set up the table on Wednesday, return to classes and on Thursday she would come and sell the produce.
“On Saturday she would ensure that all vegetables and root crops were brought from the village to sell in the market. “She would arrange and plan her days in the market accordingly.
“She’s not ashamed to be seen selling in the market and even posts pictures of herself with vegetables and root crops on Facebook.
“Sometimes her classmates from high school and tertiary come and buy vegetables and root crops.
“Even though she is playing in Australia, she calls from Australia to ask if all the vegetables have been brought from the village to sell in Suva Market.
“We are selling root crops and vegetables that she had planted during the COVID-19 lockdown last year.”
Vasenai said Mereoni took on the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings when her father passed away last year.
“She also has plans after graduating from USP.
“She told me that she will pursue further studies to do a post-graduate course, then after completing it she will look for a job to help support her family, especially her two younger siblings.”
The Nananu, Ra, woman said she was grateful to God for blessing her daughter with the unique opportunity of representing her family and country overseas.
“She was also chosen to be part of the Lillian Amazons 7s team which consists of former students of Adi Cakobau School during the Fiji Rugby Union Super Sevens Series that was held in Suva last year.
“Sometimes she would tell me that they would suffer a lot during the intense training sessions with the team.
“I would tell her ‘that’s enough, stop playing’. “However, she was focused on that tournament.
“I just praise God for providing her a way to reach that level with the Fijiana Drua, from her journey as a young village girl, to where she is now.”
Vasenai said she was looking forward to watching the Rooster Chicken-sponsored Fijiana Drua play in the Super W final against the NSW Waratahs this Saturday.
“When the Fijiana team plays a match in Australia and since there is no network in Naitasiri, we would come as a family and watch the rugby match live on television at a relative’s place in Suva.
“We will support Mereoni in everything she does,” she said.
