Rising stars sign for Bula FC

The country's first fran­chise football club Bula FC has signed up three upcoming players for next sea­son's inaugural OFC (Oceania Football Confederations) Pro­League competition.

The competition kicks-off on January 17, 2026 in New Zea­land. The second round of the circuit series will be played in Port Moresby, Papua New Guin­ea, with Round 3 in Australia.

Round 4 will be played in Honi­ara, Solomon Islands and Round 5 in Ba and Suva before the Pro League returns to New Zealand for the final set of fixtures in May.

MOHAMMED AYMAN

The 20-year-old defender is a promising young talent with a bright future ahead. His football journey began at the age of 16 with Blues FC in the Nadi local league, quickly rising through the ranks.

His standout performances in 2022 with Nadi Futsal paved the way for his move to Nadi FC, where he featured for both the Under-20s and senior teams.

Ayman has also earned a spot with the Fiji team, showcasing his growing potential. Football runs deep in Ayman's family, and he credits his father and siblings for encouraging him to take this big step.

"This is a huge step in my foot­ball career. My dad and siblings encouraged me to play and take up the opportunity," he said.

JOSAI ASELA

The 22-year-old midfielder is another rising Fijian talent. He now steps into the profes­sional ranks after years of qui­etly working his way through the local football system. Sela's journey began back at Saraswati Primary School, before he went on to represent Baulevu High School in the secondary schools competitions.

His potential was clear and by Form 4, he had already broken into the Rewa district set-up, later earning a spot in the senior team while still a teenager.

He credits much of his inspira­tion to following in the footsteps of his older brother and former national rep Iosefo Verevou.

Now, the move to Bula FC marks the realisation of a dream he has had since childhood. "I was looking for this when I was a kid. I was dreaming of be­ing a professional player. So, yes, now it's an opportunity for me to showcase my talent."

DELON SHANKAR

The 18-year-old is one of the country's most promising foot­ballers, as the club continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the upcoming OFC Pro-League season. Shankar, who has enjoyed a rapid rise through the national pathway over the past two years, said the move marked an impor­tant step in both his career and his personal life. "The Bula FC will benefit me because I get to have an experi­ence of being a pro player and also experiencing this at this age.

"It will also stabilise my family and me financially," he said. A product of Rewa FC, Shankar began playing football at the age of nine and has since progressed through Fiji's age-grade teams, featuring for the national U16 and Ul9 sides. He has also taken part in two OFC Champions League cam­paigns, gaining valuable expo­sure against top regional clubs. His performances at the domes­tic and regional level earned him multiple call-ups to the Fiji sen­ior squad, signaling his growing reputation in the local game. Earlier this year, Shankar suf­fered a knee injury that side­lined him for part of the season. However, he returned strongly, helping Rewa win the 2024 me in Ba before contributing to the side's Pacific Cup triumph in New Zealand. He was also involved in train­ing and trial opportunities with Sydney FC, further shaping his development and expanding his experience abroad.