(Silent Assassin) Meredani Tuvou Kiliraki first began hockey at the age of 14. While attending Ballantine Memorial School, she remembers it was second term and everyone was choosing netball as their preferred sport. Up for the challenge and just be different, she decided to take up hockey and since then she has never looked back. “The first training session we had in school, was the first time I had ever seen a hockey stick and ball, my friends thought I was crazy to take up the sport, I begged to differ” says Meredani. As the years went by, she continued playing secondary school hockey and this is when Meredani begun to fall in love with this new found sport and made it her business to join club level. Meredani joined the Mobees Women’s Hockey Club in 2010 and since then has made a name for her on the hockey pitch. The 20 year old girl from Serua is known as a silent assassin for her hard tackles, impressive skills on attack and her “quiet but deadly” ways on the pitch. When on the turf with Meredani, you can barely hear her; she is soft spoken so to speak, but the silent achiever makes up for it in her game sense and speed. As much as Meredani loves spending time at the turf she enjoys dancing and singing in her spare time. Meredani attributes her hockey success to Tai Smith who has been there for her from when she first joined club level. “I would like to thank Tai for always supporting me and pushing me to be better than I already am, she always has time for the young Mobees girls and for that I am so grateful” says Meredani. She also thanks Leilani Ravatu for been her mum at the turf and teaching her more about the game of hockey. After getting chosen in the national women’s team, Meredani felt a sense of pride and joy. “I am the first in my family to represent my country and my family are so proud of what I have achieved. I finally get to make them proud, but more importantly I get to represent my country which beats any other goal I have had in life” she says. Meredani has a quote that keeps her going when life gets tough – “A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can’t”. Currently studying at the Fiji National University, Meredani hopes to one day complete her Agriculture studies and become a teacher in the field. Meredani names Melba Nautu as her role model and hopes to one day have the confidence and skills that she does. “I love how she dribbles and drag flick, she has so much confidence on the pitch and hopefully I get to learn from her someday” says Meredani. Meredani will be making her first appearance in the Fiji Jersey this Saturday when the women’s team takes on the likes of Vanuatu this Saturday. (Story by Melba Nautu, Maxine Browne and Catherine Thaggard) (Photo credits to Kirk Matthew Corrie) - Hockey Shots
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:26:41 +0000