Solomon Islands international John Orobulu continued his remarkable scoring form in Fijian football with two goals in Ba FC’s convincing 3-0 victory over Nadi on Thursday, October 8, securing top spot in Group B of the 2026 FMF Inter-District Championship. The prolific striker needed just 26 seconds to open the scoring at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva before completing his brace midway through the first half, taking his tally to three goals in this year’s competition.
The Men in Black entered their final group fixture knowing that a positive result would secure their place in the semi-finals, but Orobulu wasted little time establishing their advantage. His opening strike, arriving inside the first minute, was reported as the fastest goal of the tournament so far and immediately placed Nadi under pressure. It was another example of the Solomon Islander’s effectiveness in front of goal, a quality that has become increasingly important to Ba throughout their successful 2026 campaign.
Orobulu struck again in the 23rd minute to double Ba’s advantage, leaving Nadi facing an increasingly difficult task against a side that had already won three major domestic trophies this season. Etonia Dogalau, himself one of Ba’s standout performers during the tournament, added a third goal in the 43rd minute to send the Men in Black into halftime with a commanding lead.
The second half followed a different pattern. Nadi showed better organisation and were more effective in restricting Ba’s attacking movements, preventing the scoreline from becoming even more emphatic. The Green Machine also attempted to create opportunities of their own, but could not find a breakthrough against the defending Fiji Premier League champions.
With the result effectively settled, both teams used their benches during the second period, offering opportunities to players who had received limited playing time during the competition. Ba maintained their three-goal advantage until the final whistle, completing the group stage unbeaten with seven points from three matches.
For Nadi, the defeat confirmed a disappointing campaign that had already seen their qualification hopes disappear following losses to Navua and Lautoka. The Green Machine conceded 11 goals across their three fixtures, managing only two in return, and finished at the bottom of Group B without a point.
Beyond the immediate result, however, Orobulu’s performance deserves particular attention.
The former Rewa striker has established himself as one of the most productive foreign forwards in Fijian football over the past two seasons. In 2025, he scored 19 goals in 18 Fiji Premier League appearances for Rewa, winning the competition’s Golden Boot and helping the Delta Tigers secure the national championship.
Following a spell with Papua New Guinea’s Hekari FC in the inaugural OFC Professional League, Orobulu returned to Fiji during the 2026 season and joined Ba. Despite arriving midway through the league campaign, he scored seven goals for the Men in Black, including a hat-trick in the decisive 6-0 victory over Tailevu Naitasiri that secured the club’s record 22nd national league title.
His influence has extended well beyond the league. In June, Orobulu scored four times against Nasinu in a 6-0 victory that sent Ba into the Fiji FACT semi-finals. He subsequently played his part in the club’s successful title campaign before scoring the only goal against Nadi during the Battle of the Giants group stage in September.
With Thursday’s double, Orobulu has now reached 15 goals across Fiji’s four major domestic competitions in 2026: seven in the Premier League, four in the Fiji FACT, one in the Battle of the Giants and three in the IDC. The numbers are particularly impressive considering that he did not spend the entire league season with Ba and had previously been competing in the OFC Professional League.
His latest performance also comes only weeks after he was omitted from the Solomon Islands squad for the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup. Speaking exclusively to Oceania Football Center in September, the striker accepted the national team’s decision and expressed his determination to continue improving, hoping that another international opportunity would eventually arrive.
While his international future remains uncertain, his influence in Fijian domestic football has hardly diminished. Orobulu was already among the standout performers at the 2025 IDC, scoring four goals in Rewa’s opening 6-0 victory over Nadroga before helping the Delta Tigers secure the championship. This year, he is pursuing the same trophy with a different club, one that has dominated the domestic season.
Ba have already made history in 2026 by winning the Extra Premier League, Fiji FACT and Battle of the Giants in the same season under the modern 90-minute tournament format. Adding the IDC would complete an extraordinary sweep of Fiji’s four major domestic trophies and further establish Ravinesh Kumar’s side as one of the country’s most successful teams of recent years.
Standing between the Men in Black and another final are Labasa, who secured their semi-final place through a 2-1 comeback victory over Nasinu earlier on Thursday. The meeting will renew a rivalry that also featured in June’s Fiji FACT semi-finals, when Ba defeated the Babasiga Lions 1-0 after extra time through an Etonia Dogalau winner.
Saturday’s contest will therefore provide another demanding test for Ba’s attacking combination, particularly against a Labasa side determined to prevent the Men in Black from completing their historic campaign.
For Orobulu, it represents another opportunity to add to his scoring record and demonstrate the consistency that has made him one of the most recognisable Solomon Islands players in Fiji. With three goals already in this IDC and two matches potentially remaining, the striker has placed himself in a strong position to make another significant contribution to Ba’s pursuit of silverware.
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