Sika Manu plays for the Melbourne Storm. The 24-year-old says he could have followed many of his friends into gang life. But he used sport and religion to find a better way and he said he would one day like to help others who were at risk of travelling the wrong path.
Manu’s arms, legs and torso are covered with tattoos. There is the name of his mother on his wrist, another stresses the importance of putting family first, and on his upper left arm he has a depiction of the family’s favourite passage from the Bible, Philippians chapter four, verse six, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
“It just means for all your problems, you pray to God and ask him to help you through the tough times and he’ll get you through it,” says Manu.
“I grew up going to church each Sunday and it’s a massive part of my life. I feel really blessed to be in this position … I’m really close to my family. They’re always going to be there for me and a big part of my life.”
Source
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- Image: The Age