Brave Nabou powers on
Being injury free and fulfilling his dream of playing for the Vodafone Flying Fijians, Sikeli Nabou is confident of a bright future.
The 29-year-old who was born and raised in Levuka, Ovalau was all smiles ever since he made his debut for the Flying Fijians against Scotland last Saturday.
The former Ratu Kadavulevu School student has had a shoulder reconstruction and a broken scaphoid all in a span of three years from playing rugby.
Nabou understands the seriousness of what an injury can do to a professional rugby player as he said the hardest part was getting back on his feet.
“Injury has been a major thing for me when playing rugby which I had to overcome and it has been a major challenge for me,” he said. “Injury makes everything hard for a rugby player and when you are injured you are out for a long time and it is hard to bounce back. I have had a shoulder reconstruction in 2010 and broken my scaphoid in 2013 and I spent four to six months out of rugby.
“It really messes with you mentally and physically and getting back on your feet was difficult but I was fortunate enough to get through it. I feel really good now, being injury free is an amazing feeling and to top that off I am representing my country and played in front of the home crowd and my family.” Nabou is currently part of the Biarritz Olympique rugby team in France playing in the Rugby Pro Division Two competition. Coming back to his homeland and playing for his country has been a long time coming, said Nabou.
“It is good to be back, it’s been a long time waiting for me to represent my country,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling as a rugby player to play for the country you were born and raised in and call home.
“For me it’s a major achievement. I always dreamt about becoming a Flying Fijian but I never thought that I would make it and I finally made it.
“One of the great things about being in this team is playing alongside other great rugby players. I used to admire and look up to (Leone) Nakarawa, Akapusi Qera and to be here beside them training with them is such an amazing feeling and I am learning so much for them.”
The next goal Nabou has set is the World Cup qualifiers against Tonga and Samoa which he is hoping to be a part of.
“You know, the feeling of playing against Scotland and winning was so unreal for me, even though I only had 10 minutes to play it was the most proud moment for me and winning was the icing on the cake,” he said.
“I’m hoping I will be included in the 28-member squad to play Tonga and Samoa because it is a special moment playing against our island neighbours.
“It is always physical and tough and it is going to be the best rugby anyone could play and I hope that I will be in there.”