LIFE is unpredictable.
It is always hard to say our final goodbye to our loved ones and embrace death one day, as our role on earth would come to an end.
As the year comes to an end we acknowledge the services of the sporting personalities who make the nation proud this year. They have passed on and had contributed a lot towards the development of various sports and getting Fiji recognised overseas.
This newspaper looked back at the year where we have lost some of the big names in sports.
1. Seru Rabeni
He was a former Flying Fijians wing and centre and also played for Fiji 7s team. He scored some of the memorable tries which many of us still remember, especially from the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. He was a school teacher before pursuing his rugby career starting in 1998. Rabeni died at the age of 37 on March 15, 2016.
2. Komera Tuicakau
Tuicakau was the former Adi Cakobau School student, athletics coach and a teacher. She coached ACS in the Coca-Cola Games where the school won the girl’s title for 12 consecutive years. She passed away on September 26, 2016 after a short illness.
3. Etuate Waqa
Etuate Waqa was the former Fiji 7s assistant coach and a dual rugby international Fiji rugby team and Fiji Bati. He contributed a lot towards the development of rugby league when it started in 1992. He along with Alifereti Dere led Fiji 7s team to the HSBC Sevens World Series. He also helped the Fiji 7s team win the 2012 Hong Kong 7s after defeating New Zealand 35-28 in the final. Waqa died at the age of 54 on December 6, 2016, at his Nadera, Nasinu home.
4. Lote Rasiga
Former Fiji 7s selector and Red Rock coach Lote Rasiga was called to rest last month. He was actively involved in the development of young rugby players and making them capable to don the national 7s jersey. He used to help the players in the Qauia Village in Lami.
He died on November 20, 2016 after a short illness at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
5. Sireli Temo
Fiji Warriors prop and France-based player Sireli Temo passed away in France. Temo started his rugby career with at Laucala Bay Secondary School before moving to Suva Grammar School. He was playing for Tarbes Rugby Club in France. The 30-year-old also played for Police in the Sukuna Bowl and Naitasiri in the Farebrother Trophy Challenge. He died on November 7, 2016 at his apartment in France.
6. Mesake Seavula
The dual rugby international Mesake Seavula who represented Fiji the rugby union and rugby league died while he was on a vacation to spend the festive season with his friends and families. He was also the older brother of former Fiji half back Mesake Seavula. He died at the age of 54 on December 23 at his village in Namatakula in Sigatoka.
