She was the kindest among my children. She puts others before herself and was always straightforward.

These were sentiments shared by an emotional 68-year-old Tevita Kunatuba of her late daughter and the first women national rugby head coach Elenoa Kunatuba.

Coach Kunatuba passed away at CWM Hospital on Wednesday morning after a short illness.

She was 42.

Her father said it was a great loss for women’s rugby in Fiji and their family as she was coaching the Namosi women’s side in the ANZ Marama Championship at the time of her passing.

He said that her eldest daughter had wanted to be a chartered accountant however she was passionate about rugby and followed her heart.

She helped develop and nurture many women from the grassroots to international level. Her father added that even until her passing, five rugby players shared their home in Caubati.

“I’m at peace knowing we parted well,” Kunatuba snr said.

“She asked for my forgiveness and to look after her team members. She told me, “Daddy qai vosoti au. Qai nanumi ratou na goneyalewa. (Daddy forgive me. Please look after the girls.)

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Story by: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj