PNG Hekari FC set for OFC Pro League

The PNG Hekari Football Club are ramping up their preparations ahead of the inaugural Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League, which officially kicks off next Saturday, 17 January 2026. 

Auckland’s Eden Park and North Harbor Stadium have been confirmed as the venues for Round 1 of the inaugural OFC Pro League season 2026, with each team scheduled to play 19 games in five circuits. 

The historic competition will be Oceania’s first-ever professional football league, with eight clubs representing seven nations vying for regional glory. After nearly two decades of meticulous planning, Oceania’s dream of having a pro league has become a reality. 

The opening round will see four matches to be played at Eden Park, featuring Vanuatu United and Fiji’s Bula FC, followed by a New Zealand local derby clash between Auckland FC and South Island United.   

The following day, Tahiti will take on South Melbourne FC, and PNG Hekari FC will face Solomon Kings FC to wrap up the first set of fixtures. 

From there, the focus shifts to North Harbor Stadium, which will host the remaining matches in Round 1 as the league builds momentum and runs.

Hekari have been the most successful club in the domestic competition for over two decades. The MRDC-sponsored franchise are raring to test uncharted waters and compete against the other seven equally determined contenders. 

Former PNG Kapuls coach Marcos Gusmao will mentor the team, with the club signing three players from Brazil and a player each from the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu, including a bulk of the local talent coming through the Premier Soccer League system.  

The six players are the Brazilian trio consisting of central defender Erick Joe, striker Kauê Silva, and midfielder Rafael Chaves, as well as Fiji’s Kolinio Sovoki, Vanuatu’s John Alick, and John Orobulu of Solomon Islands.

These international signings will blend with the local talent, featuring PNG’s veteran striker Raymond Gunemba, to build a competitive team for the new professional competition. 

The OFC Pro League regulations stipulate that a club is allowed to sign six international players, specifically three footballers from outside Oceania (non-Oceania) and three from within the region.

As the days count down in anticipation of the kick-off next Saturday, the Marcos Gusmao-coached side are fine-tuning their preparations and setting their sights on the coveted title, aiming to be competitive and represent PNG with pride at an elite competition.