EXTRA Bula FC captain Roy Krishna says their first-ever home victory in the OFC Pro League is a moment to cherish, after they edged PNG Hekari FC 1-0 at the Four R Stadium, Govind Park in Ba on Sunday night.
In front of a vocal home crowd, Bula FC marked their long-awaited return to home soil with a hard-fought win, earning three valuable points and lifting their standing on the competition ladder.
Krishna, who played a key role in setting up the winning goal, said the occasion meant more than just football.
“This game means everything, we want to play for the country and make the country proud,” he said.
“Thank you to all the fans that came out in numbers.”
The home side dominated early, with Nabil Begg and Kaile Auvray both testing Hekari goalkeeper Dave Tomare, while Bula FC custodian Didier Desprez remained largely untroubled at the other end.
After a tense first half, coach Stéphane Auvray introduced Zacariah Harang in search of more attacking spark.
However, it was Hekari who nearly struck first, only for John Orobulu to head over from close range in a missed opportunity that proved costly.
Just after the hour mark, Krishna produced a moment of class, carving open the defence before slipping a precise pass through to Adam Supyk, who finished calmly.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR review confirmed it stood — sparking wild celebrations from the home supporters as Bula FC registered their first goal on home soil.
Hekari pushed for an equaliser late in the match, but Bula FC’s defence held firm despite the wet conditions, sealing a memorable win.
Auvray admitted his side lacked rhythm after a long break but expects improvement in their next outing.
“Our main issue was lack of rhythm because we just had a long break, so for the next game the players will be energetic and I truly hope that we will have a better game for the fans,” he said.
The team will face South Melbourne tomorrow at Govind Park at 7pm.
