Power Of Prayer From Wife Backs Fijian 7s Star, Tuwai
Jerry Tuwai’s wife says she relied on her prayers to back her award-winning husband.
Tuesday 05 November 2019 | 21:00
Fiji Airways Fijian 7s star Seremaia Tuwai (second from left), with wife Mereani (second from right), dad Poasa, mum Seruwaia and his two children Lani (front left) and Jone at the Nadi International Airport on November 5, 2019. Photo: Nicolette Chambers
Mereani Tuwai, wife of Fiji Airways Fijian 7s star, Seremaia ‘Jerry’ Tuwai, revealed she relied on her prayers to support her husband.
Renowned 7s coach Sir Gordon Tietjens, who rated Tuwai as the best playmaker in the world, said winning World Rugby 7s Player of the Year Award in Tokyo was long overdue.
“He should have won it a couple of times,” Sir Gordon said.
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The 7s star arrived with his wife from Japan at the Nadi International Airport yesterday.
Mereani said his achievement was not only because of the hard yards he had to accomplish, but it was through daily prayers.
“It is not his parents, it is not me it is only through the God that we serve,” said Mereani
“As a wife and a mother to him, I was supporting him through my prayers. It is challenging for me when he goes abroad to play, but I make sure that I give him my full support because he deserves it.
“I am so happy for his outstanding performance with all his training and especially his international games that he has taken part in to represent this nation has finally paid off.”
She added it was a bit of challenge for her to manage the household when ‘Jerry’ was at camps or international tournaments.
“Despite this, I have never let him down, giving him my full support together with my children was always what we had at the back of our minds,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tuwai said his award was not his alone.
“This means the world to me, not just to me but to my family, for Fiji as a whole, especially to my brothers who I have played with throughout the years,” he said.
“They are the real heroes who deserve this, I don’t deserve this, I am just accepting this on their behalf and I’m honoured for them.”
He hopes his achievement will boost other upcoming and current players to stand proud on the international stage.
“They can achieve everything as nothing is impossible if they put God first and their heart into it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sir Gordon said: “Congratulations to Jerry Tuwai, he is the best playmaker in the world.
“He has been outstanding with his performances and so well deserved and a lovely humble boy.
“And prior to the Olympics he is just an outstanding player and perhaps I feel it’s been little overdue and he should have won it before a couple of more times,” the former All Blacks 7s coach said.
Edited by Naisa Koroi
Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj
