Bula FC to sign three regional players

Three players from the region will be part of the Bula football club team in next year’s OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) Pro League competition. 

Members of the squad will assemble in Ba for the first time on Monday, December 8. 

Interim chairman Marc McElrath said the team will be based in Ba in its inaugural OFC Pro League season which kicks off in January. 

“Negotiation with players had begun a few are expected to sign up. Three regional players and the rest are local,” said McElrath.

“This is a defining moment for Fijian football. Competing in the OFC Pro League puts Bula FC and our players on the international stage, and we’re ready to make Fiji proud.”

For the first time, clubs from New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia, Tahiti, and Vanuatu will battle it out in a professionally structured competition designed to raise the standard of the game across the region.

He added that the home base is Ba and their home ground will be Govind Park.

“It is new, and we need to share development with the township of Ba. I believe that this set-up is expected to benefit Ba in a big way.”

The squad will have a month of pre-season training before the competition starts in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Regarding the format of the competition, the matches would be played in circuits. 

The first circuit will be hosted in Auckland, games will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, and some at the North Harbour Stadium. 

Fiji will host the fifth circuit at the HFC Bank Stadium in and Govind Park, Ba. The venues of the remaining circuits will be announced soon by OFC.

About 23 players will be signed by the club.