A 19-year-old athlete who plays for two different sports, football and rugby equally well believes he can continue to represent the nation at both sports.

Junior Bitner Tafili plays for Samoa's Junior Manu Samoa (Under20)'s national team as well as Samoa's champion football club Lupe Ole Soaga which recently won the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League 2023 Qualifying Stage.

The Junior Manu Samoa claimed the PacificAus Sports Oceania Trophy in December last year.

According to Mr. Tafili, sports had been his go-to whenever he's feeling down, lost, and uncertain of paths to take in life. It's his happy place.

"I'm just grateful to God for the talents he have blessed me with. At first when I was younger, I though playing was just a habit and a fun thing to do when you're bored and as I grew older, I realised it's a gift from God and I aim to pursue this further as I grow older," he said.

"Both soccer and rugby are my callings and I believe I can do both with God and my family as well as both my teams on my side. I don't have to ignore the other sport because the other is more important or if I'm better at the other sport.

"These are callings from God and it is my ambition to pursue both and make my family proud."

Asked if he sees a future for him in both his careers, Mr. Tafili said he is not sure yet but with the way things are going now especially at a young age, gives him the confident that he can do so much with both his rugby and football callings.

Mr. Tafili started playing football from a very young age and after football trainings every evening, there would be rugby trainings held at the same sports field either in his village or at Malifa.

For him, football training was not enough so he would always join his other friends in the rugby trainings as well and that's where his multi-passion was drawn from.

Mr. Tafili was selected in Samoa's national football teams and travelled across the world for tournaments. The national football team were dominated by players from the Lupe o le Soaga football team.

In 2021, he was selected into the Manu Samoa Under18 and in 2022, he also made it to the Junior Manu Samoa Under20 where he and his team each received gold medals.

He is currently training for both national teams in preparation for two international games for both rugby and football.

Mr. Tafili is the son of Lealailepule Satuuu Tafili and Palasi Tafili from Magiagi.

He is a winger and full back in the Junior Manu Samoa Under20 and is mainly goal keeper when he plays football.

He encouraged young people to follow and pursue their dreams. "You will know when it's your calling," he added.