Pesamino the Player of the Year
Sun, 30 May 2010 23:43
On the same day that Samoa lifted an historic first ever IRB Sevens World Series trophy, their star try-scorer Mikaele Pesamino was named Sevens Player of the Year, the first of the IRB Awards to be presented this year.
The leading try-scorer in this year's World Series with 56, Pesamino fought off stiff competition from countrymen Lolo Lui and Alafoti Fa'osiliva and England's Ben Gollings to win the coveted individual Award.
"I wanted to be the top try scorer this year and I wanted to be the Player of the Year and I feel great, I feel happy, not only for me but also for my team mates, my family all the way from Samoa," Pesamino said, on receiving the award.
"They pray for us, they cheer for us, and also our fans, our younger players, this is our best gift for them for our Independence Day next week.
"It's Sunday today in Samoa and the people will go to church and the pastors will talk and I think they will talk about rugby on this day.
"Our Prime Minister said that we would have a national holiday if we won the Series, and we'll celebrate, we'll enjoy and this is our best gift to our people."
Pesamino proved a remarkable match-winner for Samoa, helping them to event wins in Las Vegas, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Edinburgh with 56 tries, 23 more than anyone else this season.
Mikaele Pesamino is the second Samoan to win the IRB Sevens Player of the Year Award, following teammate Uale Mai who scooped the prize in 2006.
Previous IRB Sevens Player of the Year
2004: Simon Amor, England
2005: Orene Ai'i, New Zealand
2006: Uale Mai, Samoa
2007: Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand
2008: DJ Forbes, New Zealand
2009: Ollie Phillips, England
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