EXTRA Bula FC’s push for the 2027 OFC Professional League title has received a boost with the signing of New Zealand goalkeeper Jack de Groot, who arrives in Fiji determined to help the club go one step further.
After finishing third in the inaugural regular season before reaching the top-four playoffs, the Bula Warriors will be looking to build on that foundation. De Groot, however, is already setting his sights on the ultimate prize.
“I want to come in and win the whole competition. We have the group to do that, so why not!” he said.
The 22-year-old believes he is joining a club with the right environment to challenge for the championship, having followed its first campaign and been impressed by the unity within the squad.
“After watching the first season, the group looked very tight, and after speaking with some players, they couldn’t say a bad word about Bula,” he said.
For de Groot, the move also represents the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition to play professional football, making his arrival in the Pacific a significant step in his career.
“I’m very excited and honoured to be part of this group. Professional football is something I’ve worked towards for my whole life, and it feels so right it being on this side of the world,” he said.
Standing at 191 centimetres, the left-footed goalkeeper brings experience from England and New Zealand, where he has collected several individual honours, including three Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
His football journey began at six in Hertfordshire, England, before he returned to New Zealand at 17 and spent four seasons with Wellington-based Miramar Rangers.
He later joined Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs, helping the club finish second in the Northern League and qualify for the National League.
The side also recorded the most clean sheets across Auckland and Wellington.
Meanwhile, de Groot believes his ability to play with the ball at his feet, communicate effectively and remain composed under pressure will complement Bula FC’s playing philosophy under head coach Stéphane Auvray.
Although the move will take him outside his comfort zone, he is eager to experience life in Fiji and adapt to the demands of football in the Pacific.
“I can imagine the football would be more physical, but it’s something I will not shy away from,” he said.
With his ambitions firmly set on the title, de Groot will be hoping his arrival helps turn Bula FC’s promising start into a championship-winning campaign in 2027.
