Former Football Stars Farewell Inosi Tora

Members of the football fraternity bid their final farewell to former national football and Nadi captain Inosi Tora at Namotomoto Village, Nadi on Thursday.

During the funeral at the St Michael Par­ish, former national team-mate Kini Tubi recalled when they played for the national side that beat a top Australian club 3-1 for the first time on Fijian soil.

“We had prepared well as the Australian club was a tough one,” he said.

“We tried our best to beat them and we did. We did it just because our minds were into it together especially the boys from the West­ern division.

“Jo Tubuna and Inosi Tora were our best centre backs at that time. We had a chat be­fore that match. Top goalkeepers like Bale Raniga and Save Waqa often say that when Tubuna and Inosi are playing together they can relax at the back.

“Despite how tough the opposition’s strike force would be they are able handle the pres­sure well.” he said.

Tubi, a Bavu, Nadroga native played at right back while Jone Nakosia was the sweeper.

The side had top players like striker Inia Bola, Akuila Rova, Abdul Mannan, Sam Work, and John Monday.

Bola said Tora was a hard man to beat.

In that match, Rova and Work scored the first and second goal respectively while Tora scored the final goal.

Former players that attended the funeral were George Hicks, John Grey, Paula Sauku­ru, Tela Qoro, Dan Lutumailagi, Henry Dyer, Teti Vosa, Inoke Tora, Mijieli Turaganikeli, Inia Bola, Peter Dean and John Monday.

Former Nadi rep Dan Lutumailagi said the event was a mini reunion for the Fijian Foot­ball legends.

“Inosi was my mentor as he said to play football you need to be on the front line in­stead of being on the bench,” Lutumailagi said.

The stalwart central defender passed away at the Nadi Hospital after a short illness last Saturday.

He played for Nadi and was a member of the renowned Tanoa FC.

Tora made his debut for Nadi during the 1977 Battle of the Giants where they won and was part of the 1978 team that won the National Football League.

He was a household name in the early 1980s and was known as the country’s most rug­ged defender.

Tora is survived by his wife Luisa Salele, seven children and nine grandchildren.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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