Maika Sivo admits he will cry at Fijian anthem at World Cup 9s
With that famous chant, Maika Sivo knows how rugby league fans can ignite Parramatta’s Bankwest Stadium. But when he steps out for Fiji on Friday night, it will be the Eels star struggling to keep a lid on it.
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Tears will fall from the face of a proud Maika Sivo when the Fijian national anthem is played at the World Cup 9s on Friday night.
Unfortunately, the cult hero status he has in his country means he will be keeping secret the date of his return to Fiji next month for fear of being mobbed.
“I don’t want to tell anyone anything, what time I will be back,” Sivo said. “I will surprise them. If I tell them, they will be everywhere.”
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Before then, Fijians will see the love Sivo has for his country when God Bless Fiji — or Meda Dau Doka, as the locals call it — rings out around Bankwest Stadium.
“I’m an emotional guy, so whenever I am singing the national anthem, tears always come to my eyes,” Sivo said in reference to Friday night’s match against Pacific rivals Samoa.
“I can’t hold myself together when singing that anthem.
“I always think about representing my mum (Mere) and Dad (Joeli), the family and all the people back at home. I always get emotional.
“It’s such an honour to represent our country. I also get emotional when I put the jersey on and, at the same time, I get excited for the challenges we are going to face, especially this weekend.
“It’s a big thing for us to represent all the people in Fiji, to represent them in the game. All Fijian people are happy people. For us, representing our country is something special.
“Whenever they call us to go and represent our country, we always put our hand up. That’s how happy we are.
“The people in my village (Mimo) back home don’t have much but they are always happy. They have a laugh all the time.”
After such a long wait to see him in the flesh, Sivo knows what to expect when he returns to his homeland.
“I haven’t been back in nearly six months,’’ he said. “I’m looking forward, and I’m excited, to be going back to the village and catching up with everyone in November after the New Zealand Test.
“I want to catch up with everyone. Everyone will be waiting for me.”
The hustle and bustle of Sydney was not Sivo’s cup of tea when he first arrived.
“I struggled a bit because I came from a small village in Fiji,’’ he said. “I wasn’t used to it but I have been in Sydney since 2016. I am used to it now.”
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The Parramatta Eels star will ignite the Nines on his own home ground at Bankwest Stadium.
There is a feeling that the famous “Sivo, Sivo, Sivo” chant will be in full force.
“I’m used to playing on that stadium,’’ he said. “It’s only been a couple of weeks since I last played there.
“It will be good going back there and playing and representing my country.
“We have a couple of guys who are Fijian locals and they have some experience. That will be good for us having them here.
“There is going to be lots of space, so I’m looking forward to it. It will be good for us.
“We have a tough pool with Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands but we are ready for the challenge.”
Originally published as Maika Sivo admits he will cry at Fijian anthem at World Cup 9s