PNG Hekari FC have confirmed that goalkeeper Dave Tomare has signed a new contract for the 2027 OFC Pro League season, retaining one of the club’s most experienced Papua New Guinean players as preparations continue for their second professional campaign.
The announcement was made through the club’s official Facebook page, with Hekari confirming that Tomare, who served as their inaugural captain, will remain part of the squad next year.
“Our inaugural captain and goalkeeper from the inaugural OFC Professional League campaign, Dave Tomare, has re-signed with PNG Hekari FC for the 2027 OFC Pro League season!” the club announced.
The renewal represents an important step towards maintaining continuity following a difficult first season in Oceania’s new professional competition. PNG Hekari finished eighth in the regular-season standings, collecting eight points from 14 matches, before ending their campaign at the bottom of the Challengers Group.
Despite those results, Tomare was among the players who gained valuable experience competing against professional clubs from Australia, New Zealand and across the Pacific.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper featured in 12 of Hekari’s 17 matches during the inaugural campaign and wore the captain’s armband on five occasions. He had been selected for the leadership role by Brazilian coach Marcos Gusmão before the competition began in January.
His relationship with Hekari, however, goes back considerably further.
Tomare established himself in the club’s domestic setup before becoming an important member of the team that reached the 2025 OFC Men’s Champions League final. He captained Hekari during that campaign, which saw the Papua New Guinean side return to the continental championship decider for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010.
The goalkeeper has also represented Papua New Guinea internationally, making his national-team debut in 2023 and subsequently featuring in the Kapuls’ FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Earlier this year, Tomare spoke to OFC Media about the impact football has had on his life and the significance of becoming a professional player.
Growing up in Morobe before moving to Bougainville, he initially spent more time around rugby league than football. He began playing football at the age of 11 and gradually developed into one of Papua New Guinea’s established goalkeepers.
“Football has given me a lot. It has changed everything for me,” he explained.
His selection for PNG Hekari’s inaugural professional squad represented another milestone in that journey.
“I’m proud to represent all my people. I represent my family, especially my daughter. Playing in the OFC Pro League has been one of the biggest achievements of my life,” Tomare said during the 2026 season.
The decision to retain him comes as Hekari undergo significant changes ahead of their second campaign.
In August, the club appointed Iranian-born American coach Matt Badiee as their new head coach, entrusting him with the responsibility of improving performances after a disappointing first year.
Badiee arrives with extensive experience in coaching education and player development, and has already outlined his ambition to make Hekari more competitive against Oceania’s strongest clubs.
Retaining an experienced goalkeeper familiar with the demands of the competition could provide an important foundation for that rebuilding process.
Tomare’s renewal also follows a period of transition for several Papua New Guinean players, some of whom spent time representing domestic clubs in other Pacific countries after the inaugural professional season.
For Hekari, establishing a stable core of experienced players alongside new additions will be important as the club attempts to improve its results in 2027.
The second OFC Pro League season is scheduled to begin on January 22, with matches again taking place across several Pacific nations and Australia.
A revised knockout format will also give all eight participating clubs an opportunity to compete in the final stages, which will conclude at the National Stadium in Honiara on June 6.
Although Hekari’s first professional campaign fell short of expectations, Tomare has already experienced some of the most important moments in the club’s recent history, from the continental final in 2025 to captaining Papua New Guinea’s first professional football team.
His renewed contract ensures that he will have another opportunity to help PNG Hekari establish themselves in Oceania’s professional era.
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