An all-round sportsman

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 17

An all-round sportsman

Mita Mohi was a poplar personality and an effective fr.ont-row prop on the rugby league fields of Canterbury from the time that he first joined the Marist (now MaristWestern Suburbs) club until he ended his long career as player-coach of Riccarton when not far short of his fortieth birthday. If there was any criticism that was consistently levelled at Mohi it was his unwillingness to adopt the more brutal “enforcer” tactics which brought others earlier recognition from national selection panels. Indeed, the most effective stiff-arm tackle delivered by Mohi was made in Manchester Street. He was standing outside the Hotel Embassy, where he was working as a part-time bouncer, when a car con-

verter left the vehicle that he had stolen and printed Mohi’s way. The unfortunate fellow finished on the footpath with the massive Mohi sitting on him while the traffic officer who had been giving chase contacted the police. Mohi made 42 appearances for Canterbury between 1960 and 1973, and was one of the outstanding figures in the 1965 final Kiwi trial at Greymouth. But Mohi was a surprise omission, although he took some pleasure from the selection of his club-mate and hunting companion. Bob Irvine, whom he had persuaded to switch from rugby union a few seasons earlier. When Mita Mohi clinched a place in the 1972 Kiwi World Cup team, noone was more thrilled than

his brother, Dinney, who v. is a Maori Al! Black and played about 150 games for Bay of Plenty. Another brother, Andy, was a Bay of Plenty rugby league representative. The entry of Mohi into professional wrestling was encouraged by the renowned John Da Silva, but Mohi feels their meeting was of mutual benefit: “He got me started in wrestling, and I persuaded him to join the Maori and Island Affairs Department John is now one of the top community officers in Auckland.” Mohi won several Maori Catholic tennis titles was a Malvern and Marlborough representative, and won the last three Bishopdale club championships. One of his better-known opponents was the United States en-

tertainer. Bill Cosby, when Cosby visited Christchurch. “Cosby was a down-to-earth guy, not a comedian all of the time, and a very serious tennis player. Who won? He did. After all, he pays a professional coach $15,000 a year and expenses to travel around with him.” Many delicious seafood meals and a fine collection of old bottles have ben the products of Mohi’s aqualung diving, and he has hunted pig — “you are only as god as your dogs” — ail over the South Island. Sport will continue to play a big part in Mohi’s life in Rotorua. Not only from his own participation, but also by encouraging his family. It might be a sign of the future that his son was in the Canterbury eight-years midget team last winter.