Soccer officials and fans honored former Fiji captain Josaia Tubuna with a national hero’s funeral in Ba. The Fiji Times’ edition from August 6, 1984, featured Tubuna’s wife, Rebeka, and their then five-year-old son, Manasa, on its front page.
Tubuna tragically lost his life in a road accident near Ba just two days earlier when the van he was in collided with a parked cane truck. Teammates and former national representatives Inia Bola and Semi Tabaiwalu were also injured in the incident and were reported to be in satisfactory condition at Lautoka Hospital. Bola had regained consciousness on August 5 after being unconscious since the accident.
Dr. Michael Oldmeadow, a consultant physician, stated that both Bola and Tabaiwalu were no longer in critical condition but would require an extended hospital stay. He withheld specific details about their injuries until their families were informed.
The driver of the van, Solomone Ukitu, explained he did not see the cane truck until it was too late. Ukitu, 23, from Tavua, said he had picked up Tubuna, Tabaiwalu, Bola, and Kaminieli Tora for their journey to Ba around midnight, with Tubuna seated by the window. The accident occurred at Varavu when Ukitu, upon passing another vehicle with its high beams on, switched his own lights to high beam and suddenly spotted the parked truck only three meters away. He swerved to avoid a collision, but it was futile, resulting in Tubuna’s death, which occurred instantly due to the severe impact.
While some farmers drinking yaqona nearby assisted in rescuing the passengers from the wreckage, the owner’s brother transported them to the hospital. The Fiji Football Association (FFA) anticipated a large turnout at Tubuna’s funeral, with FFA president Hari Pal Singh expected to lead a delegation. Approximately 7,000 attendees were anticipated at the Ba stadium, including former Fiji team manager Chandra Dip Sharma, who was closely associated with Tubuna.
Former national coach Sashi Singh remarked that although Tubuna was fierce on the field, he was highly respected and maintained strong friendships. District representatives from various regions, including Suva, Rewa, Lautoka, and Nadi, planned to join Ba representatives and the Ba Moto-Sarava players to create a guard of honor during the funeral ceremony.
On the day of the funeral, Tubuna’s body was taken from Lautoka Hospital to his father’s home in Field 40, Lautoka, at 8 a.m., and the procession to Ba Stadium began at 9:30. Family members proceeded to Naidrodro for Catholic funeral rites before the casket was displayed at Ba Stadium.
Tributes at the stadium included remarks from then Ba Mayor Kishor Govind, FFA president Hari Pal Singh, and Ba manager Vinod Patel. The funeral procession departed from the stadium at 1:30 p.m. for Naidrodro Cemetery, where final prayers and casket wrapping were conducted. The Ba Soccer Association covered a significant portion of the funeral expenses, and the FFA provided the casket. A trust fund for Tubuna’s five-year-old son Manasa and an expected child with Mrs. Rebeka Tubuna was established by the local community.