Man of the people
BULA readers and happy Saturday to you and your loved ones, as you might be aware voting has now closed to see if our 7s talisman Jerry Tuwai is crowned World Rugby Men's Sevens Player of the Decade. With due respect he has been placed against some very stiff opposition from so many other deserving players from a host of different countries, but in my humble opinion there can only be one winner and that of course is our own Jerry Tuwai.
I have had the honour of traveling to the majority of countries on our international sevens circuit including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, USA, Dubai etc interviewing the team and reporting on their wins and also their losses during each section of the tournament. A pleasant memory for me personally is the calm and mature attitude Tuwai always has regardless of whether he has played brilliantly or on occasions when he has been underwhelming or carrying an injury.
There have been times when he became enemy number one of a few fans, when Fiji had lost some games and their overall performances had been below the high standards that the team sets.
Regardless of this, during these trying times Tuwai always continued to show professionalism and humbleness. Even more impressive is his ability not to retaliate to the negative comments made about him and his teammates in the public arena.
Most professional sports people will tell you that talent can only get you so far, but it's the mental strength and ability to overcome adversity that will truly define great athletes over good athletes. Most of us have seen Jerry Tuwai transform from a very shy baby-faced rugby player eight years ago, and now into a well-rounded Ring General on the pitch and a great ambassador off the pitch, this has been achieved through hard work, mentoring and perseverance.
Off field behavior now is as important as on field behavior in today’s age of micro analyzing and restricted privacy for any public figure plus what we all need to need to realise is that no one is perfect, but in Jerry's case regardless of sometimes being dragged from one charitable or rugby event to another he has the mental strength to cope with the pressures of public life which can be almost as demanding as his sporting life and in some instances even more.
As I always say with fame comes a certain amount of responsibility and Tuwai has shown so far he has coped very admirably indeed.
My involvement with Jerry away from the glare of the 7s circuit has been to visit various establishments like The Blind School, Gospal School for the Deaf, various primary and secondary schools where he has inspired so many individuals not by some lengthy speeches telling people how to live their lives, not by telling people about his achievements on the field, but rather just a few words of encouragement. His real strength for the people is his ability to stay so humble and inspire the masses just by his simple and enduring personality.
He is certainly a hero to me and the people of Fiji, where in today's world where some crave and clamor for recognition, Jerry on the other hand just enjoys the moment and brings happiness to others which is a special attribute indeed.
I know there has been a ground swell of public support for Jerry to win the coveted title of best male 7s player of the decade not only in this newspaper but by so many other well-wishers and organisations Fiji wide and also internationally.
Regardless of this, win, lose or draw I am sure you will agree that Jerry Tuwai is a true son of Fiji and in our hearts will always be a man of the people and an inspiration to all. Well done Jerry and keep inspiring the people of our beloved nation.