Lua was playing for his Vailele Rugby team against the Vaiala Ulalei at Apia Park, Samoa when he was caught underneath a pile of big bodies during a ruck. As players from both sides broke away, he was still on the ground suffering from severe pain on his right leg. Play was suspended as he was rushed to the Tamasese Mea’ole General Hospital at Moto’otua where he found out that his leg was broken.

“I was very sad as I thought to myself that I might never play rugby again. My injured leg was in a cast for three months and when the doctors removed it, I then went through the long and painful process of rehabilitation through physical therapy and other means,” Lua told this correspondent.

“I agonized over my misfortune and felt very depressed at times but I gradually found the courage to face the situation and adjust my life accordingly.”

He spent over one year recovering from his injury and eventually the broken bone on his right leg was healed and Lua started his slow march back to playing the sport he loves best.

“I took it easy at first, walking, swimming and doing other exercises. Then I began jogging at a slow pace to strengthen my leg. When the doctors gave the go ahead to put weight on my leg and increase the level of my training, I started to play touch rugby and then advanced to the body contact aspect of the sport.”

Lua is named after a Japanese scientist, Nikikata, but has no idea who he was. “I don’t know who and what kind of scientist this man was. According to my aunt, Iupeli Filiga, Nikikata was her friend and professor who taught at a New Zealand University she had attended. When she returned to Samoa at the time I was born she named me after her scientist friend whom she said had passed away.”

Lua attended two colleges in Samoa, Maluafou (1997/98) and Avele (1998/2000), and played rugby for those learning institutions. When he graduated, he worked at the Café Pacific restaurant at Vailele and the Insel Fehmarn Hotel at Tanugamanono. He resigned in 2000 to seek better opportunities in American Samoa.

Vailele Rugby club has produced many Manu Samoa household name stars like, Mikaele Pesamino, Simaika Mikaele, Levi Asi Fa’amatala, and the current captain of the Manu Samoa 7’s squad, Reupena Levasa. (The Manu Samoa skipper, according to media reports from Apia has pulled out of the current Apia team bound for the IRB World series tournaments in Japan and Hong Kong because of back problems.)

“I learned a lot from playing with our Vailele village icons and the knowledge gained from that experience has really helped in my preparations for the Hong Kong trip,” Lua explains.

When he arrived in American Samoa 10 years ago, Lua stayed with the late Rev. Sunny Tea’s family at Petesa Tai until he moved out last year to start a new family. Lua is married to Fuala’au Tuailemafua from the village of Leone. They met last year at the StarKist plant, their place of employment, and started their courtship until they tied the knot at the High Court in 2013. 

They have no children. Lua does not know the year his dad, Leota died. His mother, Tuafale still lives in Vailele with two of her sons and one daughter. He has one brother living here.

Lua was selected for the Talavalu team in 2011 and has played for American Samoa in international competitions held in Hawai’i, New Caledonia, and Samoa as a flanker or #8.

According to Lua, he used to play cricket and was good at athletics and participated in secondary athletic meets during his days at school in Apia. “I competed in the 400 meters and the 400 meter hurdles, and in the relays. I was pretty fast in my younger days,” he proudly proclaims.

Lua applied for a three-month leave from his job and says he is very thankful to the StarKist management for approving his wish.

“I wanted to train with the team during morning sessions and spend more time working on fitness and other moves. I could not have possibly done that at the time, as I was working on the morning shifts. I would report to work at around 6.00 a.m. and therefore miss our morning runs. But thanks to the management for their support — now I am able to train full time with the Talavalu team.” According to Lua, he will return to work in April.

If Lua has one regret, it is his loading of more responsibilities on the shoulders of his wife, Fuala’au. 

“I am very sorry for giving my wife more duties, now that she is the only one working in the family. We talked about it and pondered over our state of affairs and decided it was the best thing to do if I wanted to devote full time to the American Samoa team. I’m very grateful to my wife for her support and I have promised her that I will play to the best of my ability to honor her commitment to our cause. I love her very much,” Lua says.

Lua, his wife Fuala’au and family belong to the Petesa Tai Christian Congregational Church of American Samoa. He thanks his church, his minister, the Rev. Eleasaro and wife, Pitovao Fa’ata’a, his mom, Tuafale, sister and brothers here, and in Apia for their 100 percent backing of him.

He believes American Samoa will do very well at Hong Kong because of the wonderful support the team has recieved from their fans, families, and well wishers.