Kings bring OFC Pro League home as storms hit round three fixtures

Solomon Islands will take centre stage in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Pro League next month.

This comes as Honiara is confirmed as the host of round four, a major moment for the country’s first professional club, Solomon Kings FC.

Eight matches will be played at the National Stadium from 14 to 19 March, with all eight clubs playing twice across five days.

For Solomon Kings, it will be their first chance to play league matches in front of home fans.

The club has made a bright start to the season and is pushing for a top-four finish.

They are set for two big tests in Honiara, hosting current league leaders Auckland FC in a replay of their upset win earlier in the season, before facing South Melbourne FC.

Football is the national sport in the Solomon Islands, and strong crowds are expected at the 10,000-seat National Stadium.

Built for the 2023 Pacific Games, the venue has already hosted major regional finals, including the OFC Women’s Champions League in 2024 and the Men’s Champions League in 2025.

Ticket details are expected soon.

Photo/OFC Media

Kings climb the table

The Honiara announcement follows another strong performance from Solomon Kings at the weekend, when they edged PNG Hekari FC 2–1 in heavy rain in Melbourne.

Japanese attacker Sota Higashide again played a key role, scoring the opener and helping to create the second goal. He fired home from close range after a cross fell kindly to him, before later setting up Junior David with a simple pass across the goal.

PNG Hekari had their chances. Veteran striker Raymond Gunemba struck the underside of the crossbar, and the Papua New Guinea side pulled one back late on after a penalty was awarded following a VAR review.

Goalkeeper Phillip Mango saved the first effort, but Joseph Joe scored from the rebound.

Solomon Kings were reduced to 10 men after Atkin Kaua was sent off following another VAR check. Nine minutes of added time followed, but the Kings held firm in driving rain to secure the win and move up to third in the standings.

The result underlines the club’s growing confidence as they prepare to host the competition on home soil.

Storms disrupt play

Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms in Melbourne disrupted the latest round of fixtures.

The match between South Island United and Auckland FC was postponed after heavy rain left standing water on the pitch at the Home of the Matildas stadium on Tuesday.

Kick-off was delayed twice before officials ruled the surface unplayable.

A new date for that fixture will be confirmed later.

Despite the weather, the second scheduled match in Melbourne, South Melbourne FC against Tahiti United, was still set to go ahead.

Pacific focus

With Honiara preparing to welcome the region’s top clubs, round four marks an important moment for Solomon Kings and Pacific football.

Hosting the professional league gives local fans a rare chance to see top-level club football at home, while also showcasing Solomon Islands’ ability to stage major regional events.

As the Kings continue their push up the table, they will now look to turn home advantage into more points and keep their strong start to the season alive in front of their own supporters.