Solomon Islands striker John Orobulu has joined the Guadalcanal Hornets for the 2026 Solomon Cup, returning to his home country after an outstanding season in Fiji, where he helped Ba FC win all four major domestic competitions. The prolific forward took part in his first training session with the provincial team on Thursday, October 29, as preparations continue for the tournament scheduled to begin on November 22 in Honiara.
Orobulu’s arrival gives head coach Franco Ne’e an experienced attacking option ahead of a challenging group stage. The Hornets have been drawn alongside defending champions Makira-Ulawa, Honiara Warriors, Western Tomoko and Isabel Frigates in Group A, with ten provincial teams competing for the national title.
The 2026 season has been particularly successful for Orobulu, who joined Ba midway through the campaign following a spell with Hekari United in the inaugural OFC Professional League. His return to Fiji proved productive, as he helped the Men in Black claim the Premier League, Fiji FACT, Battle of the Giants and Inter-District Championship, completing a historic domestic quadruple.
The Solomon Islands international scored seven league goals for Ba, including a hat-trick against Tailevu Naitasiri in the 6-0 victory that secured the national championship. He also scored four times during the Fiji FACT, including all four of his team’s goals in a 6-0 group-stage victory over Nasinu, and finished the IDC with another four goals as Ba defeated Navua 2-0 in the final.
His success followed an equally impressive 2025 campaign with Rewa, where he scored 19 goals in 18 Premier League appearances to finish as the competition’s leading scorer. He also helped the Delta Tigers win the IDC, claiming another Golden Boot with seven goals. His achievements with Ba this year made him a back-to-back IDC champion with two different clubs.
Although Orobulu currently resides in Honiara, the Guadalcanal Hornets have explained that his inclusion as a guest player is connected to his personal ties with East Central Guadalcanal, where he spent part of his childhood living with his sister’s family. His participation in the provincial competition provides another opportunity to play in the Solomon Islands after establishing himself as one of the most productive forwards in Fijian football.
The Hornets have also included three other guest players in their preparations: Lent Abua, Paul Francis and Marlon Tahioa. Francis is another familiar name from Fiji football, having represented Nasinu during the 2026 season and contributed to the district’s run to the Battle of the Giants semi-finals.
The attacker recently returned to Solomon Islands to captain Eastern Frigates in the Guadalcanal Football Championship, guiding the team to the title with a 2-0 victory over East Central on October 19. His inclusion alongside Orobulu gives the Hornets two players who have enjoyed considerable success in different competitions this year.
Abua also participated in the recent Guadalcanal Championship, while Tahioa brings experience from Central Coast FC in the Telekom S-League. All three have previously represented the Hornets, whereas Orobulu is making his first appearance with the provincial team.
Guadalcanal have named a 26-player squad for the competition, with Franco Ne’e leading the coaching staff alongside Freling Tovosia and goalkeeper coach Desmond Kanuto. The Hornets finished third in the 2025 Solomon Cup and will be looking to improve on that result when the tournament returns to Honiara.
The 2026 Solomon Cup will run from November 22 to December 5, with Guadalcanal facing an early challenge against a group that includes reigning champions Makira-Ulawa. For Orobulu, the competition represents another opportunity to contribute to a title challenge, this time on home soil after two trophy-laden seasons in Fiji.
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