By JARROD POTTER
“This is far from my story’s end – I want that green and gold and I don’t care if I don’t get it this year or the following year, but I will be on that plane to Brazil for the Paralympics.”
These are steely words of determination from Michael Faamausili – who is motivating to represent Australia at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, despite numerous obstacles thrown in his way.
An operation in 2007 to remove a brain tumour left Faamausili, 23, from Pakenham, paralysed on the right side of his body and also epileptic on top of a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
But these are merely obstacles to work past for Faamausili, not limitations.
His beloved rugby was replaced by soccer and the defender/midfielder has made his mark on the Victorian Paralympic Football team already, and recently was selected for the Victorian Special Olympics soccer team to pursue his dream.
“I made a decision this time last year that I’m not going to feel sorry for myself anymore and I wanted to represent Australia,” Faamausili said.
“An opportunity that got stolen from me I believe from rugby, but I believe I can represent Australia for the Paralympic Youth Games and was just informed that I made the Victorian Special Olympics team.
“It means a lot, the more soccer I can play – even with the Pakenham team – the better it is for me.”
He’s found a new home for his talents – set to run out this debut season with Pakenham Cougars Soccer Club, after a team mate on the Victorian Cerebral Palsy team suggested he play more soccer against able bodied players to improve his skills.
“One of the players I play alongside in the Cerebral Palsy team – he actually plays for Australia – and told me if you can play more soccer with able bodied people, it will help you gain more experience,” Faamausili said.
Pakenham Soccer Club president Mark Dunn said the minutiae of the world pales in comparison to what Michael has been through in his life so far and the new recruit’s work ethic on the training track puts a lot of more naturally gifted players to shame.
“You can see how inspiring he is – the thing for me is you get players down there who don’t put in 100 per cent and they have the natural abilities and then you get somebody like Michael come along,” Dunn said.
Not all of them know what Michael is going through – most don’t even know he has a disability, that’s how well he’s doing down there.”
“The committee are right behind him and he’s a part of the soccer club family.”
Faamausili wanted to thank his family, friends and the Pakenham Soccer Club for their support as well as his faith in God for making him the man he is currently.
“I’m a really big man of faith – if my friends and family never turned me to God I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” Faamausili said.
“To think of the person that I was back then (before the surgery), if God was to give me the life I had back then and forget all the people that I’ve met since then, I’d refuse.”
Faamausili also runs the Outlook program at Cardinia Life in Pakenham, helping people with intellectual disabilities to train at the gym.
