The Solomon Islands' lone football club in the running to be part of the new Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) League Professional League has been revealed.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed that Solomon King FC is one of the 13 clubs now awaiting final selection by the OFC, who will be annoucing the teams that will be part of the new league in September.
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In a statement, Manele said that a new partnership forged between the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and the Brisbane-based Wynnum Wolves Football Club would help the new club.
"In what is described as a major boost for Solomon Islands football, the partnership between SIFF and Wynnum Wolves FC will see the establishment of the country's first professional football club ahead of the newly introduced Oceania Football Confederation Pro League," the statement said.
"Under this landmark partnership, SIFF will form a team to compete in the OFC Pro League, to be named Solomon King FC.
"Solomon King FC will be the nation's first professional football club, comprising 18 local players and six international recruits. The team will be based in both Honiara and Brisbane, Australia, and will play matches across six different venues within the Pacific region.
"Players will also have potential pathways to the German Bundesliga through Wynnum Wolves FC's relationship with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund."
In August, the OFC Club Licensing Committee will pass on its recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee, with confirmation on the eight selected clubs happening in September.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed Solomon King FC are one of 13 clubs vying to join the eight-team OFC Professional League due to start in January 2026.
Manele’s statement says the new club will have partnerships with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and Brisbane-based Wynnum Wolves.
If accepted to the league, Solomon King would sign 18 local players and six international recruits. The team would be based in both Honiara and Brisbane, and would play matches across six different venues within the Pacific region.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed Solomon King FC are one of 13 clubs vying to join the eight-team OFC Professional League due to start in January 2026.
Manele’s statement says the new club will have partnerships with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and Brisbane-based Wynnum Wolves.
If accepted to the league, Solomon King would sign 18 local players and six international recruits. The team would be based in both Honiara and Brisbane, and would play matches across six different venues within the Pacific region.
Should be a Pacific-only tournament. Including NZ and Australia muddies the waters too much. 2 sides each from Fiji and Tahiti, 1 from NC, Solomons, Vanuatu, PNG. Chuck them a load of money for proper coaching, three or four overseas pros each, bang. Jobs done.
Also, let the collective sighs from those of us who didn't want this to happen be heard too.....
The five hubs for the first season include - Auckland, Melbourne, Fiji (no city given, but would assume Suva with HFC Bank Stadium), Honiara & Port Moresby.
That's quite an early leak it being only Juily & the clubs not due to be announced until September.
Disappointing for Mainland football fans. I hope this means NZF are doing some work behind the scenes to try get them an A League club. Pragnell wants one.
If those hubs are correct, then Sth Melbourne must be the Aussie club accepted. Sounds like only them and Sunshine Coast were in the race.
Going to be interesting how this all plays out for Auckland and the Nix. Surely they can't just be their current young reserve teams that play National League. They won't be competitive enough, against the Island teams that could effectively be de facto National teams. Gonna need to sign some older more veteran players from somewhere. A few from ACFC for example with lots of experience playing in toasty Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby??
That's quite an early leak it being only Juily & the clubs not due to be announced until September.
Disappointing for Mainland football fans. I hope this means NZF are doing some work behind the scenes to try get them an A League club. Pragnell wants one.
If those hubs are correct, then Sth Melbourne must be the Aussie club accepted. Sounds like only them and Sunshine Coast were in the race.
Going to be interesting how this all plays out for Auckland and the Nix. Surely they can't just be their current young reserve teams that play National League. They won't be competitive enough, against the Island teams that could effectively be de facto National teams. Gonna need to sign some older more veteran players from somewhere. A few from ACFC for example with lots of experience playing in toasty Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby??
Would assume a lot of U21-23's will be getting hoovered up from the National League clubs. There is no where near enough depth at either Auckland or Wellington club to be able to field a squad in that competition as it stands at the moment.
Will be good for the likes of Lachlan Candy, Luke Flowerdew, Daniel Makowem, Fergus Gillion, Ryan Watson and the such who may find themselves elevated onto scholarship deals out of this. But they're going to have to think outside the box on how this is all going to work.
I don't see what the motivation would be here for the nix or Auckland to recruit players rather than play the academy players? Granted, they might keep the older ones an additional cycle, but why would they recruit?
I don't see what the motivation would be here for the nix or Auckland to recruit players rather than play the academy players? Granted, they might keep the older ones an additional cycle, but why would they recruit?
In order to win, if there isn't the depth in quality in the current stable to compete for continental football.
It's also what the current AFC reserve sides essentially is.
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I just don’t know how this can work in practice.
I think practice will catch up with the theory awfully quickly and we’ll get to find out!
That's quite an early leak it being only Juily & the clubs not due to be announced until September.
Disappointing for Mainland football fans. I hope this means NZF are doing some work behind the scenes to try get them an A League club. Pragnell wants one.
If those hubs are correct, then Sth Melbourne must be the Aussie club accepted. Sounds like only them and Sunshine Coast were in the race.
Going to be interesting how this all plays out for Auckland and the Nix. Surely they can't just be their current young reserve teams that play National League. They won't be competitive enough, against the Island teams that could effectively be de facto National teams. Gonna need to sign some older more veteran players from somewhere. A few from ACFC for example with lots of experience playing in toasty Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby??
I wouldn’t say all Mainland Football fans will be disappointed if this actually comes to pass.
That's quite an early leak it being only Juily & the clubs not due to be announced until September.
Disappointing for Mainland football fans. I hope this means NZF are doing some work behind the scenes to try get them an A League club. Pragnell wants one.
If those hubs are correct, then Sth Melbourne must be the Aussie club accepted. Sounds like only them and Sunshine Coast were in the race.
Going to be interesting how this all plays out for Auckland and the Nix. Surely they can't just be their current young reserve teams that play National League. They won't be competitive enough, against the Island teams that could effectively be de facto National teams. Gonna need to sign some older more veteran players from somewhere. A few from ACFC for example with lots of experience playing in toasty Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby??
I wouldn’t say all Mainland Football fans will be disappointed if this actually comes to pass.
Yeah look I'm sure there are a number of Canterbury football fans who don't like Christchurch United at all. Fair enough.
But if you want the best of your local young football talent to have a clear pathway into pro football, without having to leave the Sth Island, plus be on a bigger stage than the Southern League (definitely the most off the radar of the 3 NZ domestic leagues) - then yeah you will be disappointed.
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I just don’t know how this can work in practice.
I think practice will catch up with the theory awfully quickly and we’ll get to find out!
You have a senior ALM squad, and a reserve team OFC Pro League squad. Some rule that no more than say 5 contracted players from the ALM squad, can ever be in an OFC Pro League match day squad.
Aside from the UK it's pretty common place to have reserve teams in the lower tiers. They mostly operate under similar type restrictions.
With 2 week hubs in destinations like Honiara, Port Moresby and Port Moresby - it won't be that easy to just drop ALM squad players from the NZ clubs into this OFC Pro League for games at short notice.
Disappointed for South Island football. Despite there being obvious rivalry in Christchurch it still would give the region a higher profile and a pathway to pro football for lots of youngsters. As a Nix supporter I wish we weren’t involved TBH. As Dome mentioned recently the management are overstretched with all the current teams and projects. As a small club we have way too much going on already. We risk doing many many things at an average level rather than doing a couple of things really well. The clubs core business is the men’s senior team. It’s really important to get that team back up to speed after last season. I can see this new comp as nothing but an unnecessary distraction. Who will staff it? They will need managers, physios, trainers, bagmen etc etc. I would prefer Christchurch United. They have done great work with their facilities etc down there
Agree but the second teams have nothing to play for - they can’t get promoted.
Let’s say that this was the season before the club World Cup and $5 million was on the line for qualifying.
And the nix have had a shocker start to the A league.
So, David Dome is looking at millions for his owners or sending some low quality player who is never going to make the difference.
Or Payne, Rufer, Our new star two imports, Christ I’m struggling to think of anyone else good for the 5th spot, but you know what I mean 😂
coochiee
martinb
AucklandPhoenix
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I just don’t know how this can work in practice.
I think practice will catch up with the theory awfully quickly and we’ll get to find out!
You have a senior ALM squad, and a reserve team OFC Pro League squad. Some rule that no more than say 5 contracted players from the ALM squad, can ever be in an OFC Pro League match day squad.
Aside from the UK it's pretty common place to have reserve teams in the lower tiers. They mostly operate under similar type restrictions.
With 2 week hubs in destinations like Honiara, Port Moresby and Port Moresby - it won't be that easy to just drop ALM squad players from the NZ clubs into this OFC Pro League for games at short notice.
Never seen the point of this competition other than to spend FIFA's bribe. Disregarding the composition of the NZ sides , the Australian content is questionable Have a look at South Melbourne who are tipped as the Australian side.They appear to be a shambles on and off the field at present They are about 10th in Victoria NPL. Melbourne Knights even worse .
Disappointed for South Island football. Despite there being obvious rivalry in Christchurch it still would give the region a higher profile and a pathway to pro football for lots of youngsters. As a Nix supporter I wish we weren’t involved TBH. As Dome mentioned recently the management are overstretched with all the current teams and projects. As a small club we have way too much going on already. We risk doing many many things at an average level rather than doing a couple of things really well. The clubs core business is the men’s senior team. It’s really important to get that team back up to speed after last season. I can see this new comp as nothing but an unnecessary distraction. Who will staff it? They will need managers, physios, trainers, bagmen etc etc. I would prefer Christchurch United. They have done great work with their facilities etc down there
If we don't qualify for many of the Intercontinental Cups or Club World Cup, it's also a major financial risk. This comp isn't going to make money. I wonder if we would have entered had Auckland FC not been around to enter.
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I just don’t know how this can work in practice.
I think practice will catch up with the theory awfully quickly and we’ll get to find out!
You have a senior ALM squad, and a reserve team OFC Pro League squad. Some rule that no more than say 5 contracted players from the ALM squad, can ever be in an OFC Pro League match day squad.
Aside from the UK it's pretty common place to have reserve teams in the lower tiers. They mostly operate under similar type restrictions.
With 2 week hubs in destinations like Honiara, Port Moresby and Port Moresby - it won't be that easy to just drop ALM squad players from the NZ clubs into this OFC Pro League for games at short notice.
Of course it is, but I'm sure there's not a professional club as small as the Phoenix in the world taking on the logistics, administration and costs of three professional teams in different top flight leagues all with major travel and impediments
While it may end up being WPX and AFC, nothings confirmed yet. The Club Licensing Phase deadline for clubs to get all their documentation in for their application is tomorrow (July 18). So for a committee to get together and assess all applications, and for it to be approved by the OFC ExCo before the deadline has even passed is highly unlikely - and of course would be challenged by unsuccessful clubs if this were to be the case.
Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
I know Auckland FC are very confident they'll have a spot in the league. Not sure if they've been told anything or not, I assume not based on Since2007s message above
I really hope that someone is going to explain clearly the rules on who and who can’t compete between the two squads.
I mean let’s say it’s the year before the club world championship. The Nix are having a so so A league season so say ok let’s write this season off and load up our best imports and kiwi players into this comp to bring home the big bucks and qualify for the prize money.
I just don’t know how this can work in practice.
I think practice will catch up with the theory awfully quickly and we’ll get to find out!
You have a senior ALM squad, and a reserve team OFC Pro League squad. Some rule that no more than say 5 contracted players from the ALM squad, can ever be in an OFC Pro League match day squad.
Aside from the UK it's pretty common place to have reserve teams in the lower tiers. They mostly operate under similar type restrictions.
With 2 week hubs in destinations like Honiara, Port Moresby and Port Moresby - it won't be that easy to just drop ALM squad players from the NZ clubs into this OFC Pro League for games at short notice.
Plus registration in two different confederations?? Or is that not going to matter?
As someone from the mainland region and who doesn't support Chch Utd, I will be very gutted for the region if they don't get in. It would be a great pathway and something the South Island desperately needs. Also because from what I have been told, Mainland football did not support the bid because they didn't want to upset the other clubs in chch. What a piss poor attitude that is. VimFuego
coochiee
That's quite an early leak it being only Juily & the clubs not due to be announced until September.
Disappointing for Mainland football fans. I hope this means NZF are doing some work behind the scenes to try get them an A League club. Pragnell wants one.
If those hubs are correct, then Sth Melbourne must be the Aussie club accepted. Sounds like only them and Sunshine Coast were in the race.
Going to be interesting how this all plays out for Auckland and the Nix. Surely they can't just be their current young reserve teams that play National League. They won't be competitive enough, against the Island teams that could effectively be de facto National teams. Gonna need to sign some older more veteran players from somewhere. A few from ACFC for example with lots of experience playing in toasty Honiara, Suva and Port Moresby??
I wouldn’t say all Mainland Football fans will be disappointed if this actually comes to pass.
If YHM's leak is true, it would be highly controversial... like has been said already, clubs have not even necessarily submitted their completed bids to the OFC yet!
Could be a case of AFC and Nix being their preferred teams before seeing the bids. I assume those teams will be assessed further especially on their ability to run two professional teams simultaneously.
From what I understand clubs will find out in late August if they have made the cut or not.
In August, the OFC Club Licensing Committee will pass on its recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee, with confirmation on the eight selected clubs happening in September.
The final phase of the Club Application Process for the inaugural OFC Professional League has officially concluded, with 13 clubs submitting their Club Licensing documentation by the July 18 deadline.
These clubs are vying to be among the eight selected to compete in Oceania’s first-ever professional football league, which is set to kick off in January 2026.
OFC Professional League Manager Stuart Larman says the conclusion of the submission phase marks another key milestone in the competition’s journey.
“The clubs’ have worked very hard to meet all the requirements of the Club Licensing regulations and their submissions are now being assessed, with evaluations expected to be completed by mid-August,” Larman said.
Following this, the independent OFC Club Licensing Committee will review the assessments and recommend the successful applicants to the OFC Executive Committee. A final decision is scheduled before the end of August.
The process began in January with 24 expressions of interest, which were narrowed down to 13 clubs across the region in February. The breakdown includes:
Four clubs from New Zealand, two each from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, one club each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.
Australia is permitted a maximum of one team in the league, while OFC Member Associations may have a maximum of two teams.