More than 1,000 people, including players from the Texas A&M football team, attended Saturday's funeral of a teammate who died in a car accident in New Mexico.
Texas A&M red shirt freshman defensive end, Polo Manukainiu, 19, and his younger brother, Andrew “Lolo” Uhatefe, 13, were among three who died in a crash in New Mexico at the end of last month.
The service was held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville.
The brothers were on their way back from Utah with another local teen, Gaius Vaenuku, who died. Two others in the crash survived.
Manukainiu, a defensive lineman, had played for Trinity High School in nearby Euless. The three were from Euless' tight-knit Tongan community. Saturday's service was conducted in both English and Tongan. Family members wore a traditional skirt called a ta'ovala to pay their respects to the brothers and their culture.
"They're just good kids. They love their family and football,” cousin Asena Puafisi told NBC 5 after the funeral. “It's like they do everything for family and church."
Polo Manukainiu was about to start playing at Texas A&M. Almost all of his teammates and their head coach arrived in two buses from College Station. They shook hands and hugged family and close friends of the brothers on their way inside the church.
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"It's really good,” says Puafisi. “I think it gave comfort for the family that they came to show their respects."
According to police, neither brother was wearing a seatbelt when the SUV flipped in New Mexico. The driver, Polo's step brother was wearing a seatbelt and survived.
Aggie football coach Kevin Sumlin didn't speak to the media before or after the funeral Saturday but previously said, "A&M lost a terrific young man who's humor and smile touched all who came in contact with him."
A&M has not announced how it will honor Manukainiu’s memory during the 2013 football season.
Associated Press writer Uriel J. Garcia contributed to this report.
