LASARUSA Senibale, the head coach of the Naitasiri under-20 team, and the assistant head coach of the Fiji U18 team which was on tour to Australia, was laid to rest yesterday.
He was buried at the new Lovonilase Cemetery outside Suva, after a funeral service at the Centenary Methodist Church.
He died on Friday, October 3, while in Australia with the Fiji under-18 schoolboys team, a day before their second Test match against the Australian Schoolboys.
He was 52 years old.
In delivering the eulogy on behalf of the Fiji Rugby Union, operations manager Sale Sorovaki described Senibale as a straight-forward person and a man who embodied the essence of fatherly love.
Sorovaki also highlighted his vast experience in, and understanding of rugby, such as him being the first Fijian coach to attain level three coaching accreditation from World Rugby.
Meanwhile, during the service, eulogies were also delivered by the vanua, the Ministry of Education, the Fijian Teachers Association, his family and the church (lotu).
A special rendition of the song Now Is The Hour (To Say Goodbye) was performed by the Suva Head of Schools Association as a tribute to Senibale.
When his coffin was taken out of the church at the end of the service, the choir and the mourners sang the hymn, Kaya Oti Na Noda Kalou.
His funeral was also attended by Cabinet ministers Aseri Radrodro and Jese Saukuru, students of Suva Methodist Primary School, where he served as head teacher and members of the national under-18 team that toured Australia with him.
He is survived by his wife Liviana Bula, children Barbara, Kasaya, Lasarusa Dokai Jr and Lasarusa Juju Senibale, and grandchild Josie Senibale Radaveta.
