Vodafone Fijian 7s captain Osea Kolinisau will not only remember the 2014 Las Vegas 7s for Fiji’s win. But also as the day he met the love of his life.
With the limelight constantly on the players themselves, very little is known about their private lives and loved ones who have sacrificed a lot to support them in their career.
Kolinisau and girlfriend Tavu Fa, who is from Ha’ano Island in Tonga, have been together for a year and a half since meeting at that Las Vegas 7s.
The couple, however, were not then aware that two months later they would end up as more than friends and now going strong a year and a half later.
“I went to Las Vegas on a holiday and to also watch the 7s team and that is where I met Osea and I have been stuck with him ever since,” Fa said.
“We knew each other for over two months before getting into a relationship, but before a relationship even developed we were just really good friends.
But being the kind of person that Kolinisau is, down to earth, well disciplined and someone who puts God first before anything, Fa could not help falling in love with him.
“Our relationship is pretty normal for me, apart from every second person stopping us to take photos with him and autographs. He is a really down to earth,” Fa said.
“I really do miss him a lot from the time when he leaves for training and camp and when he is away overseas.
“It gets hard but he’s got to do what he has to do. But it is a good thing that I have worked to keep me busy from missing him so much and work keeps me occupied because my job is demanding.”
Fa works as administration executive in Vodafone Fiji’s Corporate Department and said being with Kolinisau has helped her grow as a person.
“I am actually learning so much from him in terms of his spiritual life, he is strong with that and I feel like I am growing a lot.
“He has definitely contributed a lot to my personal growth and professional growth; he is just a positive figure in my life.”
But despite being in love, they are taking their time on when to get married.
“Our future is something we don’t know much about at this point, we are just taking each day as it comes.
“We have only been together for a year and a half and we are just letting things take its course, we are not rushing into anything just yet.
“My family loves Osea and they all get along with him and vice-versa with his family and me,” Fa said.
Meanwhile, Kolinisau said having Fa with him has been a positive boost and could not ask for a better partner.
“She has always been there for me since we met and that is something that I love about her,” he said.
“She is always helping me when I need it the most, She encourages me to always do my best in training and games and I really could not ask for a better partner.”