John Orobulu is a Solomon Islands professional footballer who currently plays for Papua New Guinea Premier Soccer League club PNG Hekari and the Solomon Islands national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 August 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Honiara, Solomon Islands | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | PNG Hekari | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Southern United | ||
| 2024–2025 | Rewa | 24 | (22) |
| 2025– | PNG Hekari | ||
| International career | |||
| 2023– | Solomon Islands | 9 | (8) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editOrobulu took part in the 2022 Solomon Cup with Honiara Warriors FC. He went on to become top scorer in the competition.[1] His performance included a four-goal match against Makira-Ulawa which garnered him Man of the Match honours.[2][3] Later that year, he was a standout player in the IUMI Cup, a competition mostly for youth players which also features players from the Telekom S-League.[4] Orobulu scored at least fifteen goals as the second-best scorer in the competition.[5]
For the 2023 S-League season, Orobulu joined Southern United.[6] In the club's first match of the season, Orobulu scored a hat-trick against defending champions Solomon Warriors. It was the first hat-trick scored by any player in the new season.[7] In his first four league matches, the player scored five goals to take an early lead in the Golden Boot race.[8] To open the second half of the season, Orobulu scored a brace in a 2–1 victory over Marist. The brace increased Orobulu's goal tally to fourteen, five more than second-place Gagame Feni.[9]
Following his golden boot win at the 2023 Pacific Games, Orobulu was expected to join Ba of the Fiji Premier League during the winter 2024 transfer window.[10] Another Fijian club, Nadroga F.C. was also reportedly close to signing the player, before Orobulu ultimately declined the deal.[11] Shortly thereafter it was announced in late January 2024 that he had joined domestic side Henderson Eels for the 2024 season.[12]
In 2024 Orobulu’s moved to Fijian team Rewa FC, despite news reports saying he would stay in the Solomon Islands to complete the season in the Telekom S-League.[13][14] It was announced in November 2025 that Orobulu had signed for PNG Hekari FC for the OFC Professional League inaugural season.[15]
International career
editIn July 2023, while top scorer in the S-League, Orobulu was called up to the Solomon Islands national team for the first time for a training camp.[16] The following October, head coach Felipe Vega-Arango named Orobulu as one of three new players in the senior squad that would take part in the 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup in New Caledonia as a preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.[17] Orobulu made his debut in the opening match of the tournament, an eventual 3–1 victory over Papua New Guinea on 8 October.[18]
Orobulu was named to the Solomon's squad for the Pacific Games in November 2023. He went on to be the top scorer in the competition with eight goals.[19] His performances included a goal against Samoa,[20] five against American Samoa,[21] and a brace against New Caledonia in the final. Orobulu's two goals in the championship match were not enough as the Solomon Islands drew 2–2 in regulation before falling on penalties.[22]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of match played 18 December 2024[23]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 2023 | 7 | 8 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 8 | |
- Scores and results list Solomon Islands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Orobulu goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 December 2023 | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands |  Samoa |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2023 Pacific Games | [24] |
| 2 | 23 December 2023 | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands |  American Samoa |
1–0 | 11–0 | 2023 Pacific Games | [25] |
| 3 | 7–0 | ||||||
| 4 | 9–0 | ||||||
| 5 | 10–0 | ||||||
| 6 | 11–0 | ||||||
| 7 | 2 December 2023 | National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands |  New Caledonia |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2023 Pacific Games | [26] |
| 8 | 2–2 |
Honours
editReferences
edit- ↑ Abana, Simon. "Malaita Eagles win fifth Solomon Cup". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ "John Orabulu sealed 4 goals for Honiara Warriors to register first 3 points against a determined Makira Ulawa side". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ "Day 4-Player of the Match". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Iroga, Robert. "Meet the man behind the IUMI Cup Championship". Solomon Business Magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Terry, Floyd. "Molea on fire". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Abana, Simon. "FC Juniper Tree, Central Coast FC and Southern United ends first league round on a high". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Aruafu, Carlos. "TSL season kicks off". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Saltori, Rafael. "Telekom S-League: Southern United's Orobulu rises as 'Golden Boot' surprise candidate". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Aruafu, Carlos. "Orobulu strikes again". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ Mamu, Moffat. "Kakasi to rejoin Ba". The Solomon Star News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Cama, Akuila. "Solomon Islands star Orobulu for Nadroga". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Mamu, Moffat. "Orobulu for Eels". The Solomon Star News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ↑ Saltori, Rafael (2024-07-19). "John Orobulu's dramatic transfer explained: from Southern United to Rewa FC amidst controversy". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
- ↑ Saltori, Rafael (2024-06-29). "Golden Stay: Solomon Islands' star John Orobulu commits to Southern United, rejects Rewa deal". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
- ↑ "Orobulu and Alick Join PNG's Hekari for Pro League". Fiji Live. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Twenty-five (25) players have been called up to join the Solomon Islands national training squad training sessions starting next week". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ "MSG PM Cup a test preparation for Sol2023 Games". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ↑ "GSA profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands men's football settles for silver at home". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Aruafu, Carlos. "Solomon Islands secure narrow victory in men's football opener". Pacific Games News Service. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ Alex, Chris. "Orobulu Scores Five Goals As Solomon Islands Thrash American Samoa". Solomon Islands Sports Media. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia Take Pacific Games Glory". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ↑ "John Orobulu". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands vs. Samoa". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands vs. American Samoa". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands vs. New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ Solomon Islands Football Federation. "SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ ABC News. "New Caledonia clinches men's football gold after tense penalty shootout against Solomon Islands". Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ Solomon Islands Football Federation. "MSG Squad Name". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ Sports Media. "Champions Solomon Islands Return Home with MSG Cup 2023". Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ Solomon Islands Football Federation. "Third Place Solomon Islands National Team". Facebook. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ Sports Media. "Josh Smith names official 23-man for MSG Prime Minister's Cup 2024". Retrieved April 19, 2026.
External links
edit- John Orobulu at National-Football-Teams.com
- John Orobulu at Global Sports Archive