Champ’s family humble about Mao’s success

By Ulimasao Fata 10 April 2018, 12:00AM

Nothing is impossible with God.

That is the humble reaction from Violina Seumanutafa and Nu’umua Joe Seumanutafa, the parents of Sanele Mao.

The 32-year-old won Samoa’s first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on Monday.   

At their Vaitele fou home yesterday, Mrs. Seumanutafa said they are extremely proud of their son’s achievement.

She said their prayers had been answered and even Mao’s hard work has paid off.

“We are extremely satisfied and proud of the magnificent achievement by Mao but at the same time we are grateful to God for his guidance and protection upon our son during his preparation and even when he stepped up on the battlefield."

“We want God’s name to be glorified by our son’s achievement because we have been praying and fasting for his competition, so all the glory goes back to him."

“Even before he left for the Commonwealth Games, his last words to us were to keep praying and to uplift his mission to God." 

“Mao spent the past three months at their Weightlifting team’s training camp and we know that he had been working hard through his journey.”

Mrs. Seumanutafa says they weren’t aware of the news until the photos were shared on Facebook about Mao.

She hopes their son has made Samoa proud.

“His father was not at home at the time when we heard about it. He was shocked when we delivered the news, he was in tears and couldn’t believe it.”

Mr. Seumanutafa said he was excited about his son’s achievement and at the same time he wants to thank the Lord for lifting the bar with his son.

“What he had achieved is spectacular, not only for our nation, but for my Church and for my family."

“This is a good way of marketing our country especially in a competition as big as the Commonwealth Games, and I hope that he had served our country well with his given talent.”

Mrs. Seumanutafa added that Mao doesn’t do much around their house. He is a good cook and she wants his younger siblings to learn from him.

Mr. Seumanutafa added they are looking forward to his return and his family will have a Church service to acknowledge God’s help.

Mao is expected to be back with his fellow weightlifters before the end of the week.

By Ulimasao Fata 10 April 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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