Soccer officials and fans honored former Fiji captain Josaia Tubuna with a national hero’s funeral in Ba. Featured on the front page of The Fiji Times on August 6, 1984, was an emotional image of Tubuna’s wife, Rebeka, alongside their five-year-old son, Manasa.
Tragically, Tubuna passed away in a road accident near Ba when the vehicle he was in collided with a parked cane lorry. Two of his teammates, Inia Bola and Semi Tabaiwalu, sustained serious injuries but were reported to be in stable condition at Lautoka Hospital. Bola regained consciousness two days after the accident, with Dr. Michael Oldmeadow noting that both players were no longer critical but would remain hospitalized for a while. Specific details about their injuries were withheld pending family notifications.
The van’s driver, Solomone Ukitu, stated he did not see the parked truck in time to avoid the collision, claiming the truck lacked parking lights. Tubuna and Bola were reportedly asleep at the time of the accident, and Tubuna suffered fatal injuries as the van’s cabin was severely crushed.
In the aftermath, local farmers assisted in rescuing the occupants from the wreckage, and Tubuna’s body was transported to the hospital by a relative of the van’s owner.
The Fiji Football Association anticipated Tubuna’s funeral would be one of the largest in the sport’s history, with FFA president Hari Pal Singh leading the delegation. Former Fiji manager Chandra Dip Sharma was also expected to attend, along with thousands of fans who were anticipated to gather at the Ba stadium to pay their respects.
Former national coach Sashi Singh described Tubuna as a fierce competitor on the field who was also revered and respected by peers. Representatives from various districts were set to honor Tubuna in a guard of honor at the stadium.
The funeral procession began at Lautoka Hospital, proceeding to Tubuna’s father’s home before moving to Ba Stadium for viewing. Following Catholic rites at Naidrodro, his casket was laid to rest at Ba Stadium, where tributes were paid by local officials including then Ba Mayor Kishor Govind and FFA representatives.
The Ba Soccer Association covered much of the funeral expenses, with support for Tubuna’s two children being organized by the community in Ba.