The Tongan-born blocker Chris Kemoeatu was celebrating a dream triumph last night after the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl 43 in Tampa Florida.
Kemoeatu started at left offensive guard for the Steelers, protecting star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from attacks from behind long enough for him to make the players that brought the Steelers an unprecedented Super Bowl title.
Kemoeatu says the win left him speechless but excited the Steelers are the world champions.
Twenty six year old Kemoeatu, was born in Tonga but raised in Hawaii, where his family moved when he was only three years old.
But at the moment of his ultimate triumph, Kemoeatu's mind was on his journey from the Pacific to the pinnacle of American sport success and the people who helped him make the trek.
He says it's a dream come true, he says you represent everybody so it means everything not just to me but to all of them too especially his family.
Kemoeatu also praised Tongan-born Arizona rival Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, who was the Cardinals' right offensive guard in a losing cause. Lutui, 25, was only a few months old when his family moved from Tonga to Arizona.
Five other Pacific players were involved in yesterday's NFL Troy Polomalu also playing for the Steelers, and Samoan Pago Togafau, and Hawaiians Aaron Francisco and Travis Laboy for the Cardinals.
