Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League has lost another Kumul, Josiah Tony Abavu, Kumul #244 who passed away on Tuesday 29th October 2024 at the Port Moresby General Hospital at the age of 38 after battling a long illness. Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and the football fraternity are filled with great sadness about the heart wrenching news that Josiah Tony Abavu, Kumul #244, had passed away. Late Josiah also known as “Josty” was born on 21st August in 1986 at the Port Moresby General Hospital to father Tony Abavu from Kagi and Mother Susie Hoveki Abavu from Efogi and comes from a family of 5 siblings and he was the 2nd born son. The eldest was sister Ruby, followed by his younger brothers Anthony, Bland who is a former PNG Hunter player, and youngest sister Doris. Josty as he was also known play his first football game at his first local club, the Crystal Lakers which back in year 2004, a team in the Koiari Rugby League Competition up in Sogeri, “Josiah’s passion to play rugby all began in Sogeri when seeing dad play for local club Crystal Lakers. He was a natural talented rugby player, and it grew within him, and he started playing in the center position,” his brother Anthony recalled. “He himself developed his skills in playing rugby and no one thought he would come through in developing and mastering his game, he liked watching NRL players like Greg Inglis. Through the love of the greatest sport of all, he broke through and caught us all by surprise – the rest is history.” Late Josiah played his first PNG Prime Minister’s XIII match against the Australian side in 2011 and went on to play his first game as a Kumul in the 2013 World Cup match against France in Hull in the United Kingdom in a nail-biting clash where he scored a try on debut as a winger and afterwards, he made 3 appearances in red, black and gold colors. PNG Hunters Head Coach Paul Aiton who played alongside late Josiah was also saddened to hear of his fellow Kumul’s death. “I’m sad…I reached out to Josiah because I wanted him to join our team. I know he is a great leader and person I wanted around the team…so I approached him late in the season,” Aiton said. Late Kumul #244 passed on in the presence of his mother and siblings at the Port Moresby General Hospital at the age of 38 after battling a long illness. He is survived by his sons Josh, Seke, Tony Jnr and Josiah Jnr, and his daughters Kendra and Rima. The PNG LNG Kumuls team management has confirmed the Kumuls will be wearing black arm bands this Sunday for the Pacific Championship match against Cook Islands in respect of the fallen Kumul. PNGRFL CEO Mr Stanley Hondina said, “On behalf of the PNGRFL Board, management and staff, we wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to late Josiah’s immediate family and friends, as well as to his former teammates on the loss of such a talented representative player. We wish them all comfort in this time of sorrow.” Rest in Peace Josiah Abavu – Kumul #244