Our club is Saddened by the passing of a beautiful human, great footballer, proud Fijian and dear friend Marika Karamanalovo.
In our lives we meet people who give us energy and Marika gave you everything.
His beautiful smile, generous spirit and selfless attitude quickly earned the respect of his new team, his new friends and his new club in 2018 The mighty Paddington Colts.
Marika played in our A grade with the passion of a young kid.
He loved the game of Rugby League the people and everything about it.
We made an assumption we were helping and teaching Marika when he came from Fiji to play with the Paddington Colts but little did we know he was teaching us the whole time.
Marika never missed a training, never missed a game always asked what else’s he could do.
Coach Joel Greig, a mentor to Marika had to break his heart in our last game telling him the season only plays over winter to which Marika’s reply was “then we can start our off season next week.”
Men like Marika are not common.
He had a smile that could light up a training paddock at night, an energy that made you want to play.
He had a passion that reminded you of the pure joy of the greatest game of all and a fierce loyalty that forged life long memories, friendships and unbreakable bonds.
At season 2018’s end Marika was diagnosed with brain,Liver and testicular cancer. He had successful surgery and was on the road toward recovery the target being remission.
As the Colts Family does we held a successful fundraiser to give assistance to Marika which he loved and he knew that he had a family at the Colts.
Coach Joel Greig continued to support Marika in his journey to recovery often reminding him the closest he could get to the field in season 2019 is running the water, and he never missed a game.
In 2020 Marika was sadly given a terminal diagnosis as his cancers had become ferocious.
Continuing to support him Coach Joel Greig rallied our Colts family and Marika was overwhelmed again with the support and love of his club & team mates.
In Hospital Marika was overwhelmed by the support of his team mates in particular two of his favourites Jamie Hardaker and Mike Coleman.
Marika made a prediction fellow team mate & proud Colt Mike Coleman will play 1st grade in 3 years we agree.
Lastly and sadly as it was time to say good bye, Coach Joel Greig
Said it was the most beautiful and saddest hug of his life and they both cried a bucket.
Joel asked his last question to his beautiful friend “Marika is there anything you didn’t do that you wanted to.”
Marika’s reply “ Joel I grew up in Fiji loving Rugby League it was my dream to play in Australia.
You and the Paddington Colts helped me live that dream I’m happy.
Marika was so sick he was not supposed to fly to his homeland the beautiful Fiji
Joel along with a medical team and a team at Qantas got Marika back to his village and family on Monday 27th of January wearing his Paddington Colts singlet.
Sadly today we learnt our Fijian brother and Paddington Colt family member passed away peacefully with his family around him in his beautiful Fijian village.
Thank you Marika for teaching us about how beautiful human beings can be.
Thanks for gifting us with your presence and energy.
Thanks for making our team and our club “Colture” better because you were part of it.
Thanks for allowing us to see the man, the leader, the love, the compassion and the strength that is Joel Greig our great friend and coach.
Rest In Peace our beautiful Paddington Colts family Member.
We will honour you with Arm
Bands in our first game and we will immortalise you’re memory through the club awards.
God bless your family.
Let’s be thankful for what a great club, great people and great “Colture” we have.
“ May the horse be with you all”
Craig Markham
Proud President | Paddington Colts
