Dad’s Better: Draunibaka
Rewa striker and midfielder Misaele Draunibaka aims to follow into his father’s footsteps and continues the family tradition.
But the son of former national striker Simon ‘Maradona’ Peters said he could not be like his father. “I will never equate my father in football, but I will follow in his footsteps and carry on where he left off,”Draunibaka, 28, said.
The late Peters played along some football greats including Jope Lomu and Ravuama Madigi to name a few.
It was his father’s passing, that pushed him to be the football player that he is today.
Originally from Ligau, Kia, Macuata, Draunibaka started playing football when he was 10 years old. “My father was a football legend, a very good player,” he said.
“He passed away when I was still in Year 12 when I just started playing for Labasa.
“The passion for football is in our blood and that is why I am still playing today.
His older brother Josh Tuena also played for Rewa while cousin Christopher Wasasala currently plays for Suva.
“I respect Chris on the field as an opponent, as our dads are brothers, but since we are playing for different teams, we do what we are expected to do.”
Draunibaka debuted for Labasa at 17 and moved to Rewa after two years. He went back and played for Labasa for the 2012 season alongside his high school mates Ilisoni Logaivau and Taione Kerevanua. Draunibaka made a return to the Delta Tigers in 2013 and he has been on the side ever since. However, it was not a continuous journey. He took a break for a year and a half and returned at this year’s Vodafone Premier League.
“I took a break, I felt that I had picked up some weight. I was away doing some farming” he said.
“I’m back now because football is my bread and butter,” he added. He is playing in his 9th Punjas Battle of the Giants this year and said the Delta Tigers will treat the semifinal as the final when they face Ba. “For our team, we treat every game as a final.
“We have a high respect for Ba and only time will tell,” he added. Draunibaka and a few other players suffered minor injuries and are recovering before they take on Ba at 2pm in Churchill Park, Lautoka.