Misiwani Nairube dedicates Ba’s IDC triumph to cousin after emotional message about criticism and family support

Ba goalkeeper Misiwani Nairube has shared an emotional message following the Men in Black’s historic triumph at the 2026 Inter-District Championship (IDC), responding to those who doubted his ability to continue playing and dedicating the victory to his cousin. His words carry particular significance following the controversial absence of fellow goalkeeper Isikeli Sevanaia Junior, who disappeared from Ba’s squad after the tournament’s opening match.

Nairube played an important role in Ba’s successful IDC campaign, taking over as the team’s starting goalkeeper after Sevanaia featured in the 2-1 opening victory over Lautoka. He subsequently helped the side reach the final with a decisive penalty save against Labasa in the semi-finals before keeping a clean sheet in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Navua, which completed Ba’s sweep of Fiji’s four major domestic titles in 2026.

Following the victory, Nairube took to Facebook to express his gratitude while acknowledging the criticism he had faced during his career.

“Thanking God for everything. Lots of people didn’t believe in me, saying I’m old and I cannot do it anymore, but I thank the people who stood beside me and told me to always keep believing in myself,” he wrote.

However, the most personal part of his message was directed towards someone close to him. Nairube dedicated the championship to his tavale, a Fijian term referring to a cousin, while emphasising the importance of family support during difficult moments.

“I dedicate this win to my tavale. Lots of people said bad things about you. If the world goes against you, just remember that your family will always be standing beside you.”

Although Nairube did not mention a name in his Facebook post, the dedication appears to refer to Isikeli Sevanaia Junior, his fellow goalkeeper at Ba. The family relationship between the two players was previously confirmed by Nairube himself, who spoke proudly about his cousin following Ba’s Battle of the Giants victory in September. On that occasion, Sevanaia had been recognised as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, and Nairube publicly congratulated him on his performances.

Their situation changed considerably during the IDC. Sevanaia arrived at the tournament having recently won the Golden Glove award with Fiji at the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, but disappeared from Ba’s matchday squad after playing against Lautoka on October 6. His absence coincided with Fiji FA’s announcement that six players had been suspended after returning positive drug-test results on the opening day. However, the association has not publicly identified Sevanaia among those suspended, leaving the official reason for his absence unconfirmed.

With Sevanaia unavailable, Nairube assumed responsibility between the posts and delivered when Ba needed him most. His penalty save against Lekima Gonerau in the semi-final shootout against Labasa was particularly important, allowing Ba to recover from an early missed penalty and eventually secure qualification for the championship decider.

The experienced goalkeeper also reserved words of appreciation for his family and teammates, recognising those who continued supporting him despite the criticism.

“To Mum and my daughter, thank you two for always being my biggest fans. Love this club so much. To my brothers in black, love you all,” he added.

For Nairube, the IDC victory represented more than another trophy with Ba. Having faced doubts about his age and ability to continue competing, he finished the tournament as an important figure in one of the club’s greatest seasons.

Ba’s fourth major title of 2026 will be remembered for its historical significance, but Nairube’s message also revealed the personal circumstances behind the achievement — a goalkeeper answering his critics on the field while expressing solidarity with a family member during a difficult period.