Bella’s Kitchen Hosts Special Treat For Manu Samoa Sevens
Sevens Head Coach Muliagatele Brian Lima Together With Management and Team.
Photo: Eyespy Radio
Bella’s Kitchen in Tauese hosted a special luncheon for the Manu Samoa Rugby Sevens squad to congratulate and thank the team for winning gold and the Cape Town Sevens Cup in South Africa early this month.
Sevens Head Coach Muliagatele Brian Lima led the group of 21 athletes and team management to the restaurant in Tauese on Friday, 30 December for the shout.
Tausa Faamaoni Lalomilo, the assistant coach for the Manu Samoa Sevens, told EyeSpy Radio they are thankful to receive the surprise from the “Good Samaritans,” husband and wife team Mikaele Maiava and Isabel Chadwick Maiava.
“We’re in high spirits today. It’s nice to have completed training and receive this invitation from Mike to join him for a meal and spend some time with him at his restaurant. We are thankful for his invitation to come have some food,” said Tausa.
“We are thankful to the Lord for this kindness and generosity, for helping to take care of our team. It’s rare to be blessed with such Good Samaritans. The Coach and the players have enjoyed their meal and we are grateful.”
The support from Bella’s will go a long way in helping the young athletes prepare for their next tournament in Hamilton, New Zealand, he said.
Manu Samoa 7’s At Bella’s Kitchen Restaurant.
Photo: Eyespy Radio
Tausa acknowledged the increase in the cost of living and the challenges businesses are facing in the post-COVID period, saying it is not easy to feed an entire team.
“I know it’s expensive to host this many people and to serve up the many different dishes that the boys ordered so I would like to express our thanks to Mike,” he said.
“It’s not easy these days, especially after COVID and the rise in the cost of living, it’s expensive, but he lent us his shoulder to lean on and his generosity to help take care of our team.”
Such gestures from the community are “important” to keep team morale high among the homegrown squad, Tausa noted.
“The boys, they feel very encouraged by this gesture, by this support, to see the kindness of the people who care for them and want to assist them,” he said.
“It’s important for them as they prepare, not just physically but mentally. It’s a reward for their hard work, for winning. We are grateful for the support we receive.”
Tausa and Head Coach Muliaga had Beef Soup and Mr. Maiava was seen serving up several Beast Burgers, a specialty item at Bella’s.
“There were a lot of us here today and food isn’t cheap these days. I had the soup, we all had a lot of different dishes. I looked at the food prices on the menu and it was not cheap for the restaurant to do this,” he said.
“We thank Mike and his wife and his staff for their kindness. May God bless and repay them for their generosity. It’s not an easy thing to do but he chose to do this in support of our players, in support of our children.”
Mr. Maiava was running the restaurant while his wife Mrs. Maiava (Bella) was tending to the children on Friday.
He told EyeSpy that Bella’s is happy to treat the team for bringing home the gold and the Cape Town Sevens Cup.
Several team members supported Bella’s when they were faced with COVID-19 restrictions, said Mr. Maiava.
“During the COVID times, there were about five or seven members of the team who were like almost everyday they were eating here – and they represent us. And then they won so we wanted to treat them,” he said.
“Also, Brian is a legend and we wanted to do something for them for what they have done. We have not had a gold medal in Rugby Sevens since 2016 so this is big. It’s just something from Bella and the team. I’m just the mouthpiece. I’m just a part of the furniture.”
The Manu Samoa Sevens athletes enjoyed their luncheon.
For now, the players are on New Year’s holiday with their families, Tausa said.
Come the New Year, the gold medalists will be back in training camp on Monday, 2 January, 2022.
“We are on break for now and we will be back in training on Monday until they leave. Then there will be no more beast burgers for them,” Tausa laughingly told EyeSpy Radio.
“With the New Year upon us, we pray that the Lord will bless each of us with a peaceful and successful New Year. We wish Samoa and everyone a happy New Year filled with blessings!”
The Manu Samoa Sevens squad leaves Samoa on Sunday, 8 January, 2022, for the Hamilton Sevens Tournament in New Zealand.
Early this month, Samoa Sevens defeated New Zealand 12-7 in a tough, rain-drenched Cape Town Sevens Cup final to claim their first World Rugby Sevens Series title since Paris in 2016.
Apelu Maliko was named HSBC Player of the Final.
Samoa currently stands at the top of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series.
Samoa is Number 1, South Africa is in Number 2, New Zealand in Number 3, the U.S.A. is in Number 4 and Fiji is at Number 5.