Tuivuna is Footballer of the Year 2019
ANTONIO Tuivuna had all the reasons to smile for as he was named the Footballer of the Year 2019 during the Vodafone/Fiji Football Association Awards night at the Pullman Nadi Bay Resort on Saturday.
The Labasa central defender played an instrumental role for the Babasiga Lions during the 2019 season and had a great impact in their two tournament wins last year.
Tuivuna, who turns 25 this Friday, spoke to the Fiji FA Media after the function. Q: How do you feel being named the footballer of the year 2019?
A: It’s a very proud moment for me, it’s one of the moments in my football career that I will never forget. Q: You played an instrumental role in Labasa’s two tournament wins last year. How do you manage to maintain consistency in your performance level?
A: It’s all through hard work that has helped us win two tournaments last season and we have to work more harder to remain as a champions. Just like a saying goes.
It’s easy to become a champion but it’s hard to remain as a champion, so we will take the
challenge and work harder to remain as a champion. Q: What has been your secret to success?
A: I would say trust. It’s one of the things that we all need it ourselves so that we can work together with others to make up a better team and achieve great things in life, without trust it will be hard to work with others. In football we need trust so that we can work with others to make up a team because football is not a one man game. Q: Anyone you would like to thank behind your success tonight?
Firstly, I would like to thank the Man above who gave me this beautiful talent and blessed me with what I have achieved. Secondly I would like to thank my parents, they have been supporting me since I started playing football as a young kid. My Labasa teammates and officials, without them I would not have been able to win this award and not forgetting the friendly Labasa fans for the endless love and support for the team. I said friendly Labasa fans because they are from the Friendly North. Q: Who would you like to dedicate this win to?
A: I would like to dedicate this win to my family, friends, loved ones and to the Labasa football family — Babasiga Lions. Q: Your message to the fellow footballers of our country?
A: Keep working hard and believe in yourself. Whatever you do, you do it from your heart and always stay humble.