Vika Rabale was more than happy she had Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced her son’s name as a member of the national men’s rugby sevens team.

Vika is the mother of France-based speedster Samisoni Viriviri.

Speaking to SUNsports from their Dratabu home in Nadi yesterday, Vika, who works at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, said she was looking forward to the naming of the team on Saturday night.

“I was working that night and I just kept staring at my watch to see if it was nine o’clock because that was when they were going to announce the team,” she said.

“My friends were asking me about my son’s chances of being selected into the Olympic squad and I told them that I was confident that he was going to be chosen as one of the 12 players.

“When I heard his name announced I was so happy but at the same time my boss came running out to me to tell the good news of his selection. I was so excited and I screamed for joy and I thought that some guests would have been wandering why I was screaming so loudly,” Vika said with a laugh.

She said this was good news not only for her family but the village of Dratabu as a whole.

“I have raised eight children all by myself as a single mother. I believe nothing is impossible with God. All those years of sacrifice, now it is paying off and I have only God to thank for His provisions in our life,” Rabale added.

“I always look to God for guidance and for His re-assurance. I was planning to go and watch him in Rio but I have not confirmed that as yet.”

Samisoni Viriviri Nagavesi first started his serious rugby career when he was 19-years-old. He played club level rugby for Dratabu in the Nadi Rugby Union competition. He then moved to play for Lomaiviti in the Escott Shield competition and made it to the Suva rugby team. In 2010, Viriviri moved to Nadroga and played for the Stallions.

He made his national rugby sevens debut at the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens. In 2014 Viriviri became the first Fijian player to scoop the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award.

Edited by Osea Bola

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