Telecom Fiji Warriors tight head prop Iosefo Bele Tabalala passed away yesterday at the Southern Cross hotel in Suva.
The Fiji Rugby Union has released a statement saying 32-year-old Iosefo failed to wake up yesterday morning at the Fiji Warriors Hotel camp in Southern Cross, Suva.
According to the statement, Iosefo’s roommate and the medical team tried all efforts to revive him while waiting for emergency services.
He was rushed to the CWM Hospital but all attempts to revive him failed.
Telecom Fiji Warriors Manager, Dan Domoni has told Fijivillage that the team was not prepared to receive the news about Iosefo’s passing this morning.
He said the team management had several meetings this morning to discuss the issue while the players had counselling sessions.
Domoni highlighted that the team is now focused on being positive about the game on Monday.
He said Iosefo played an intergral part in the team as a tight head prop.
However, Iosefo Bele Tabalala who is also his namesake and uncle said they are still trying to come to terms with his death.
He said his namesake was always focused on doing his best for the sport.
Tabalala said the family was shocked when they heard the news about his death.
He added that the family has never missed any of his games and that they were already looking forward to see him play on Monday against the Argentina Pampas.
While official medical results are yet to be released, the family has informed Fijivillage that Iosefo previously had a heart condition.
The late Iosefo Bele attended St John’s College in Cawaci and started his rugby career with the University of the South Pacific team in 2005 before he joined Naitasiri from 2009 to 2010.
In his second year with Naitasiri he broke into the Fiji Barbarians side, representing Fiji in the Pacific Rugby Cup until 2011.
After completing his degree in Banking and Finance from USP he then moved to Brisbane and joined the Brothers Rugby Club.
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