Bula FC announce eight more players for 2027, including New Caledonian trio and Fiji internationals

Bula FC have confirmed eight more players for the 2027 OFC Professional League season, bringing their announced squad to 17. The latest additions include three New Caledonian footballers, an Ivory Coast recruit, two overseas-based Fiji internationals, Brazilian striker Willian Medina and returning midfielder Nabil Begg.

The announcement, made in Ba on Thursday, October 29, represents another step in head coach Stéphane Auvray’s preparations for the club’s second professional campaign. Seven players are new additions, while Begg has renewed his commitment following his involvement in the inaugural season.

Among the most notable signings are Josué Welepane, Morgan Mathelon and Pierre Iékawé, who arrive from New Caledonian football. All three have represented AS Tiga Sport, bringing experience from the OFC Men’s Champions League and, in some cases, international competitions.

Welepane, 26, is a defender who captained Tiga Sport during the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League. His international experience dates back to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, where he represented New Caledonia, including an appearance against Japan. He was also part of the senior national team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Mathelon, 35, brings considerable experience and versatility, having played in midfield throughout his career while also being deployed as a central defender for New Caledonia in recent international matches. A former AS Lössi and AS Wetr player, he has spent recent seasons with Tiga Sport and represented his country in multiple international competitions. He was part of the national team that won gold at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands and featured during New Caledonia’s historic run to the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In March, Mathelon started at centre-back and played the full 90 minutes against Jamaica in Mexico, where New Caledonia suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat.

The third New Caledonian recruit, Pierre Iékawé, has also featured for Tiga Sport in Oceania’s premier club competition. The 29-year-old has represented New Caledonia internationally and was involved in the club’s 2025 and 2026 Champions League campaigns.

Their arrival is particularly interesting under the OFC Professional League’s player eligibility rules. With no New Caledonian club participating in the competition, the three players qualify as local players, meaning they will not occupy the squad places reserved for foreign or other OFC recruits.

Another addition is Souleymane Koné, an Ivorian footballer who previously represented Stade d’Abidjan in his country’s top division. His career has also included spells with WAC, LYS and ES Bafing. The move to Fiji represents his first opportunity to play club football outside Ivory Coast.

Bula FC have also strengthened their goalkeeping options with Jerome Narayan, the 24-year-old Fiji international who developed his career in Australia. Narayan previously represented Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Dulwich Hill before joining Macarthur Rams, where he established himself in the New South Wales competitions. He made his senior international debut in October 2024, keeping a clean sheet in Fiji’s 1-0 victory over Solomon Islands during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Another familiar name to followers of Fiji football is Abdullah Khairati. The 18-year-old Canada-born midfielder developed at Supra Academy in Vancouver and represented Fiji at the 2026 OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa. He subsequently earned his senior international debut during September’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, completing a rapid progression from youth to senior international football. His move to Bula FC offers an opportunity to continue that development in a professional club environment.

Brazilian forward Willian Medina, whose signing was previously reported by Oceania Football Center, is also part of the latest group. The former Galaxy FC striker was one of the standout performers of the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League, scoring 11 goals, including three consecutive hat-tricks during the group stage, as the Vanuatu club reached the semi-finals.

Completing the eight announcements is Nabil Begg, who returns after making 15 appearances and scoring twice for Bula FC in the inaugural campaign. The Fiji international enjoyed a successful domestic season with Ba FC, winning the Premier League, Fiji FACT, Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championship. He also added the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup with the national team, collecting five major trophies during 2026.

The new arrivals join previously confirmed players Sterling Vasconcellos, Scott Wara, Ryan Naresh, Thomas Dunn, Semi Nabenu, Ibraheem Afazal, Michael Boffey, Kaïlé Auvray and Jack de Groot.

Bula FC still have six places to fill in their planned 23-player squad, with further announcements expected before the new campaign. The Fijian club finished third in the regular season of the inaugural OFC Professional League and will begin its second campaign in Papua New Guinea in January 2027, before the competition continues through regional circuits across Oceania.