Alo the club manager

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Lusio Vunibola. Picture: SUPPLIED

HE is usually the first person to arrive at the Marist Rugby Clubhouse and the last to leave.

With all the hype and preparation in the lead-up to the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, he has to step up his game that includes cleaning and preparing the club before the committee and volunteers of the tournament walk in for their briefing and then staying the whole night to clean up again and locking up the club.

This is in addition to preparing the club for members of the Marist Rugby Club who come in for their training.

Born and raised in Nawaido, Bua with maternal links to Makolei in Solevu also from Bua, Lusio Vunibola left the comfort of his home in search of a better life. Both his parents had remarried and while he was studying for a Trade Certificate in welding financial constraints forced him to jump ship.

“So I decided to try out with rugby and see where my talent could take me. I decided to join the Marist Rugby Club and was proud to be part of the winning U20 team that won the Suva Rugby Union U20 competition in 2012.

“Last year the president Lawrence Tikaram asked me if I could look after the club, which I agreed and so far it has been a blessing to be part of this wonderful family. I have made lots of friends and it feels just great to be here.

“I always split my wages in half and send one share to my grandmother in the village and the other half I keep,” said Alo as he is known in the club.

Alo is the eldest of three siblings, his younger brother is a farmer back in the village while the youngest is a student at Ratu Kadavulevu School.

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