Home: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Coach: Marcos Gusmão
Papua New Guinea has been a passionate footballing nation in the Pacific for decades, with PNG Hekari FC making history as the country’s first-ever professional club.
The team are built on the foundations of Hekari United FC, who themselves have a rich history of success in OFC competitions.
The club will continue to compete in domestic and continental competitions, providing a platform to develop talent for the new professional side.
The 10-time Papua New Guinea Premier League champions have been a domestic force for years, as well as regularly featuring in the OFC Men’s Champions League.
Hekari United’s ultimate continental success came in 2010, when they lifted the OFC Men’s Champions League, becoming the first team from the country to do so, and only the second non-New Zealand or Australian team to be crowned champions.
On the national team front, Papua New Guinea were OFC Men’s Nations Cup finalists in 2016, narrowly missing out on the trophy following a penalty shootout defeat to New Zealand.
There will certainly be a distinctly Brazilian flavour to PNG Hekari FC's participation in the OFC Pro League, with new head coach, Marcos Gusmão, and three players - Erick Joe, Kaûe Silva, Rafael Chaves - making the journey across the Pacific.
Gusmão returns to Papua New Guinea, having enjoyed two previous spells as coach of the men's national team, most recently during qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2022™.
Another eye-catching addition to the PNG Hekari FC coaching staff is that of Solomon Islands duo Jerry Allen and Jerry Sam, who bring with them a wealth of experience. Allen was Hekari United coach when the club won the OFC Champions League in 2010 and led the team at the FIFA Club World Cup™ later that year.
Having already made history as the country’s first professional football team, PNG Hekari FC now have an opportunity to become trailblazers for football in the country, as they embark on a brand new era for the sport in this football-mad nation.
PNG Hekari FC Player Transfers
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | NATIONALITY |
| Joseph Brown | Goalkeeper | 23 | Papua New Guinea |
| Nabo Pongi | Goalkeeper | 34 | Papua New Guinea |
| Dave Tomare | Goalkeeper | 28 | Papua New Guinea |
| Kasum Gabriel | Defender | 26 | Papua New Guinea |
| Godfrey Haro | Defender | 27 | Papua New Guinea |
| Leon Kofana | Defender | 23 | Solomon Islands |
| Erick Joe | Defender | 29 | Brazil |
| Moses Joe | Defender | 23 | Papua New Guinea |
| Naime Reggy | Defender | 26 | Papua New Guinea |
| Gere Tegana | Defender | 23 | Papua New Guinea |
| Nigel Yaka | Defender | 24 | Papua New Guinea |
| John Alick | Midfielder | 34 | Vanuatu |
| Judah Asar | Midfielder | 25 | Papua New Guinea |
| Rafael Chaves | Midfielder | 27 | Brazil |
| Joseph Joe | Midfielder | 27 | Papua New Guinea |
| Ritzoki Tamgol | Midfielder | 22 | Papua New Guinea |
| Logan Biwa | Forward | 25 | Papua New Guinea |
| Nathan Eddie | Forward | 29 | Papua New Guinea |
| Raymond Gunemba | Forward | 39 | Papua New Guinea |
| Ati Kepo | Forward | 22 | Papua New Guinea |
| Rex Naime | Forward | 22 | Papua New Guinea |
| John Orobulu | Forward | 25 | Solomon Islands |
| Kaûe Silva | Forward | 28 | Brazil |