Bulolo United F.C.

Bulolo United, known briefly as MMJV Bulolo United for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional Papua New Guinea association football team based in Lae in the Morobe Province. The club was founded sometime before 1987.

Bulolo United
Full nameBulolo United Football Club
Foundedc. 1987
LeaguePapua New Guinea National Premier League
2017Northern Conference: 6th

The club is best known for its participation in the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League during the 2011–12 season, their one and to date only appearance in the competition. The side finished in 6th place.[1]

History

The club's history dates back as far as 1987, when they took part in the Papua New Guinea National Club Championship.[2] They were drawn in Group A alongside 5 other teams, but despite a 12–0 victory over Bengeta – the biggest victory of the competition – the side finished fourth and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.[2]

Records pick up again in 1998, when the team reached the final of the Lae Regional Championship. The side lost 3–2 to local rivals Mopi in the final.[3]

More recently, the side took part in the regional division in Bulolo, the Bulolo Premier Division, winning the title in 2006 and 2007.[4][5]

On 16 August 2011, it was announced that Bulolo was one of two new teams registered ahead of the 2011–12 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League.[6] The side would be sponsored by the Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) and would consist of players resident in the Bulolo district as well as a few player with previous NSL experience.[7]

In their opening game, the side produced one of the 'biggest upsets' of NSL opening day history with a 3–1 victory over Tukoko University.[8] The following week, however, they were brought back down to earth after a 3–0 defeat to reigning champions Hekari United.[9] By the end of the season, the side had lost 11 games out of eighteen, with two draws and five victories, including a 5–1 hammering of bottom club Petro Souths.[10] They finished in sixth place.[1]

Ahead of the delayed 2013 season, it was reported that Bulolo had expressed an interest in returning to the competition, but had yet to make any payments.[11] In the end, the club were not one of the eight teams taking part.

The club returned to national action in 2017 as part of the breakaway National Premier League.[12] The club was drawn in the Northern Conference, but made little impact on the competition, winning just one game, against Lahi United,[13] and losing the remaining nine.[14]

Domestic record

National competitions

Regional Competitions
  • Lae Regional Championship
    • 1998: Runners-Up
  • Bulolo Premier Division
    • 2006: Champions
    • 2007: Champions

References
  1. "Papua New Guinea 2011/12". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  2. "Papua New Guinea 1987". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  3. "Papua New Guinea 1998". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  4. "Papua New Guinea 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  5. "Papua New Guinea 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  6. "Two new sides join NSL - The National". The National. 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  7. "Bulolo Utd FC seek the best for NSL - The National". The National. 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  8. "Bulolo Utd stun Tukoko Uni 3-1 in NSL opener - The National". The National. 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  9. "Central stun Star while Hekari sink Bulolo in Lae - The National". The National. 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  10. "Bulolo Utd thrash Petro Souths, Besta settle for draw in Lae NSL - The National". The National. 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  11. "Only three pay - The National". The National. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  12. "Premier league starts - The National". The National. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  13. "Rural teams shock city-based opponents in National Premier League - The National". The National. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  14. "Papua New Guinea 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
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