| John Orobulu | |
| Birth Date: | 29 August 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Honiara, Solomon Islands |
| Currentclub: | Henderson Eels |
| Clubnumber: | 7 |
| Position: | Forward |
| Years1: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs1: | Southern United |
| Years2: | 2024– |
| Clubs2: | Henderson Eels |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | Solomon Islands |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 8 |
| Club-Update: | 6 October 2023 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 18 June 2024 |
John Orobulu is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays for Telekom S-League club Henderson Eels and the Solomon Islands national team.
Orobulu took part in the 2022 Solomon Cup with Honiara Warriors FC. He went on to become top scorer in the competition.[1] His performance included a four-goal match against Makira-Ulawa which garnered him Man of the Match honours.[2] [3] Later that year, he was a standout player in the IUMI Cup, a competition mostly for youth players which also features players from the Telekom S-League.[4] Orobulu scored at least fifteen goals as the second-best scorer in the competition.[5]
For the 2023 S-League season, Orobulu joined Southern United.[6] In the club's first match of the season, Orobulu scored a hat-trick against defending champions Solomon Warriors. It was the first hat-trick scored by any player in the new season.[7] In his first four league matches, the player scored five goals to take an early lead in the Golden Boot race.[8] To open the second half of the season, Orobulu scored a brace in a 2–1 victory over Marist. The brace increased Orobulu's goal tally to fourteen, five more than second-place Gagame Feni.[9]
Following his golden boot win at the 2023 Pacific Games, Orobulu was expected to join Ba of the Fiji Premier League during the winter 2024 transfer window.[10] Another Fijian club, Nadroga F.C. was also reportedly close to signing the player, before Orobulu ultimately declined the deal.[11] Shortly thereafter it was announced in late January 2024 that he had joined domestic side Henderson Eels for the 2024 season.[12]
In July 2023, while top scorer in the S-League, Orobulu was called up to the Solomon Islands national team for the first time for a training camp.[13] The following October, head coach Felipe Vega-Arango named Orobulu as one of three new players in the senior squad that would take part in the 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup in New Caledonia as a preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.[14] Orobulu made his debut in the opening match of the tournament, an eventual 3–1 victory over Papua New Guinea on 8 October.[15]
Orobulu was named to the Solomon's squad for the Pacific Games in November 2023. He went on to be the top scorer in the competition with eight goals.[16] His performances included a goal against Samoa,[17] five against American Samoa,[18] and a brace against New Caledonia in the final. Orobulu's two goals in the championship match were not enough as the Solomon Islands drew 2–2 in regulation before falling on penalties.[19]
Scores and results list the Solomon Islands' goal tally first.[20]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 17 November 2023 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2023 Pacific Games | |||
| 2. | 23 November 2023 | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||||
| 3. | 7–0 | ||||||
| 4. | 9–0 | ||||||
| 5. | 10–0 | ||||||
| 6. | 11–0 | ||||||
| 7. | 2 December 2023 | 1–1 | 2–2 | ||||
| 8. | 2–2 | ||||||
| Last updated 23 November 2023 | |||||||
| Solomon Islands national team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 8 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 8 | |