Solomon Kings FC have announced four more contract renewals ahead of the 2027 OFC Pro League season, retaining defenders David Supa, Gordon Iro and Javin Wae, alongside goalkeeper Junior Petua. The announcement strengthens the core of the squad that represented the Solomon Islands in Oceania’s inaugural professional football competition, with Supa returning to the spotlight only days after helping Ba complete a historic domestic quadruple in Fiji.
The 25-year-old defender was among the key figures in Ba’s successful Inter-District Championship campaign, scoring the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-0 final victory over Navua at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The result completed the Men in Black’s sweep of Fiji’s four major domestic titles, adding another achievement to Supa’s career before his return to professional football with Solomon Kings.
Supa had already established himself as an important member of the Kings’ defensive unit during the inaugural OFC Pro League. Alongside Gordon Iro and Junior David, he formed part of a backline that impressed during the opening rounds of the competition.
The trio started each of Solomon Kings’ first nine matches, helping the club register four clean sheets during that period, the second-highest total in the league at the time.
Their performances contributed to an encouraging start under Australian coach Ben Cahn, with Solomon Kings emerging as genuine contenders for a place among the competition’s leading teams.
Although the club ultimately finished fifth in the regular season with 18 points from 14 matches, narrowly missing out on the semi-final play-off, the defensive structure established during the campaign provided an important foundation for the team’s development.
The retention of Gordon Iro represents another significant step towards maintaining that continuity.
At just 20 years old, Iro has already gained valuable experience in professional football and with the Solomon Islands national team. The central defender was a regular presence in Cahn’s defensive system during the inaugural season, demonstrating the potential of a new generation of Solomon Islands footballers. Currently, Iro dons the colours of Green Shield in SIFF S-League.
His continued involvement will allow the club to further develop an important partnership with Supa, while also benefiting from the experience of Junior David, whose renewal was confirmed earlier this month.
Another player remaining at the club is Javin Wae, who enjoyed an impressive first professional campaign.
The 23-year-old defender scored three goals during the 2026 OFC Pro League, establishing himself as one of the Kings’ most productive players despite operating primarily in defence. Wae played the latest OFC Champions League for Central Coast and is also playing Solomon Islands’ national league for the team that is currently title holders.
One of his most memorable contributions came during the club’s home match against South Melbourne FC in March, when he scored shortly before half-time to give Solomon Kings the lead in front of a large crowd at the National Stadium in Honiara.
Although South Melbourne eventually equalised late in the encounter, Wae’s performance underlined his ability to influence matches at both ends of the pitch.
He subsequently carried that form into international football, scoring twice for the Solomon Islands during September’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in Fiji.
Wae found the net in the thrilling 3-3 draw against the hosts before scoring again in the 2-0 victory over New Caledonia, further reinforcing his importance to the national team.
His re-signing ensures that Solomon Kings will retain a defender capable of contributing goals as well as providing a physical presence in their defensive line.
The fourth player confirmed in the latest announcement is goalkeeper Junior Petua.
The 22-year-old made three appearances during the inaugural OFC Pro League season, gaining experience against some of the competition’s strongest opponents. The former Honiara City shot-stopper is currently playing the national league for Marist FC.
Among his appearances was Solomon Kings’ 1-1 draw against South Melbourne in Honiara, when he produced an important early save to deny Jordan Swibel and helped keep the Australian side at bay for much of the contest.
Petua has also represented the Solomon Islands at youth and senior international level, making his continued development an important consideration for the club.
His renewal follows the earlier confirmation that experienced goalkeeper Phillip Mango will remain with the Kings, giving Cahn continuity in a position where competition for places is expected to remain significant.
The latest announcements form part of an increasingly clear recruitment strategy ahead of the second OFC Pro League season.
Earlier this month, Solomon Kings confirmed the renewals of Don Keana, Phillip Mango and Bobby Leslie, before announcing that Raphael Lea’i, Clivert Sam, Junior David and Fordney Junior would also remain with the club.
With Supa, Iro, Wae and Petua now added to that group, eleven players have been confirmed across the three recent rounds of announcements.
The club has also retained head coach Ben Cahn, ensuring continuity in the technical leadership after a promising but ultimately frustrating first professional season.
Cahn’s team demonstrated its potential with notable results against several of Oceania’s leading clubs, including a victory over Auckland FC, but inconsistency during the later stages prevented the Kings from reaching the competition’s semi-finals.
The challenge for 2027 will be to transform those encouraging performances into more consistent results.
Retaining several members of the original squad provides an opportunity to build upon established partnerships rather than begin another season with an entirely new group.
For Supa, the renewed agreement also comes at an important moment in his career. Having played a significant role in Ba’s historic IDC success, he now returns to the professional stage with additional experience and another major domestic title to his name.
For Solomon Kings, keeping their defensive core together represents an important statement of intent as preparations continue for a second campaign in Oceania’s professional football competition.
The club has indicated that further squad announcements are expected, suggesting that more familiar faces could be confirmed in the coming days.
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