John Orobulu

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John Orobulu
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-08-29) 29 August 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Honiara, Solomon Islands
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Henderson Eels
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Southern United
2024– Henderson Eels
International career‡
2023– Solomon Islands 7 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02:32, 2 December 2023 (UTC)

John Orobulu is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays for Telekom S-League club Henderson Eels and the Solomon Islands national team.

Club career[edit]

Orobulu 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]

International career[edit]

In 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.[13] 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.[14] Orobulu made his debut in the opening match of the tournament, an eventual 3–1 victory over Papua New Guinea on 8 October.[15]

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.[16] His performances included a goal against Samoa,[17] five against American Samoa,[18] 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.[19]

International goals[edit]

Scores and results list the Solomon Islands' goal tally first.[20]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 17 November 2023 Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands  Samoa 1–0 1–0 2023 Pacific Games
2. 23 November 2023  American Samoa 1–0 1–0
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
8. 2–2
Last updated 23 November 2023

International career statistics[edit]

As of match played 2 December 2023.[20]
Solomon Islands national team
2023 7 8
Total 7 8

References[edit]

  1. ^ Abana, Simon. "Malaita Eagles win fifth Solomon Cup". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Day 4-Player of the Match". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ^ Iroga, Robert. "Meet the man behind the IUMI Cup Championship". Solomon Business Magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ Terry, Floyd. "Molea on fire". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Aruafu, Carlos. "TSL season kicks off". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  8. ^ Saltori, Rafael. "Telekom S-League: Southern United's Orobulu rises as 'Golden Boot' surprise candidate". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  9. ^ Aruafu, Carlos. "Orobulu strikes again". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  10. ^ Mamu, Moffat. "Kakasi to rejoin Ba". The Solomon Star News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  11. ^ Cama, Akuila. "Solomon Islands star Orobulu for Nadroga". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ Mamu, Moffat. "Orobulu for Eels". The Solomon Star News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "MSG PM Cup a test preparation for Sol2023 Games". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  15. ^ "GSA profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Solomon Islands men's football settles for silver at home". Solomon Islands Football Federation. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  17. ^ Aruafu, Carlos. "Solomon Islands secure narrow victory in men's football opener". Pacific Games News Service. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  18. ^ Alex, Chris. "Orobulu Scores Five Goals As Solomon Islands Thrash American Samoa". Solomon Islands Sports Media. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia Take Pacific Games Glory". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  20. ^ a b "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 2 December 2023.

External links[edit]

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