Tuilawaki takes on challenge
Vodafone Fijian 7s training squad member Josateki Tuilawaki is not a quitter.
Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, the Nakavika native from Namosi said he has been through a lot in life but is not going to give-up on his dream to wear the national rugby jumper. “Even though I faced a lot of difficulties in life, it has not stopped me from working towards my dream,” he said. Tuilawaki attended Lami High School in 2010 but decided to focus on his rugby career. “I left school when I was in Year 10 as I began to work on developing my rugby talent and in 2013 I made the Tabadamu rugby team.” This is his fourth year with the team and he says, it was things like asking for bus fare to go training took its toll on his family. “Sometimes my family gaveup on me but I kept on moving forward.” He was part of the Tabadamu side that participated at the Masaku 7s tournament in Kenya in 2014 and last year he played at the Australian Central Cruise 7s tournament.
Tuilawaki is the eldest of six siblings and his mum Vosita Veniana proud of his achievement. “I thanked God, because out of the 12 teams that played at the Uprising 7s last month, he was the only one named to join the Vodafone Fijian 7s training squad,” she said. Tuilawaki said he was grateful to former national 7s captain Setefano Cakau for his advice and he also gave him his training shoes and clothes as he wanted him not to miss any training session. He also thanked Leo Naikasau Snr for his spiritual upbringing. “I also thanked my family and friends who had supported me. Without their help and prayers, I wouldn’t have come this far,” Tuilawaki added.