OPINION: Raphael Lea’i makes the right choice to move to Australia

Solomon Islands has produced many promising players on its football history; since the likes of Commins Menapi, George Suri, Batram Suri passing by Benjamin Totori, James Naka, Micah Lea’alafa – a number of names can be remembered by the local fans. Although some reached the professional football and represented their country internationally, none had the hype and global reach of Raphael Lea’i.

The still very young forward was already getting slowly known worldwide at the age of 15; since being rumoured to trial in Argentina while playing futsal for Solomon Islands at Summer Youth Olympics 2018 the name of the talented Lea’i was echoing in football media.

Lea’i helped Solomon Islands to qualify for their first ever FIFA football competition – the U-17 World Cup in 2019 held in Brazil – being the Golden Ball of the U-17 OFC Championship. Then the youngster moved to New Zealand for a scholarship at Scotts College, being linked to professional club Wellington Phoenix. Lea’i moved back to Solomon Islands a year later and started playing for Henderson Eels, making impressive numbers at the Telekom S-League and earning experience as he played at OFC Champions League.

Many tried to guide Lea’i to his best; he went to Australia for trials with Melbourne Victory alongside his countrymen Leon Kofana through Basi Futbol agency, but he could not stay there due age regulations. For many, his talent was being wasted as he kept playing for Eels in his homenation – indeed, it was. Lea’i kept sweeping the league with no resistance, he definitely needed a bigger challenge to better his football.

In 2023 what seemed to be a golden opportunity happened – through his club owner Hudson Wakio and David Houpere, former local footballer currently residing in Japan, the player had the opportunity turn himself into the first ever Solomon Islander to play professional football in Europe. After succesful trials, the youngster signed for FK Velež Mostar of Bosnia Herzegovina.

Lea’i took time to have his first opportunities, but when he had it he had grabbed with both hands; despite getting little game time, the Solomon Islander scored and assisted in his first season for the Mostar-based team and started his second season with a goal. What seemed to be a promising start was indeed a dissapointment coming just around the corner – Lea’i ended up biting more off than he could chew.

Lea’i made a different choise for example in comparison to the now South Pacific football star Roy Krishna; Krishna, in his teen ages as Lea’i is now, had the chance to move Europe, but he decided instead to move to New Zealand citing personal reasons, especially due his lack of skills in the English language in that time.

Lea’i moved to a non-speaking English country, with a total different environment and weather – something very hard for a young man coming from the an Island-nation lifestyle. For any footballer in his circumstances, Velež was a dream move; people around him tried their best to ensure Lea’i could suceed, but it was not meant to be: Lea’i, shocking just eveyone back in Solomon Islands, decided to return his country mentioning homesickness. Local sources indicated it was a lack of professionalism from Lea’i, unfortuanately we have to agree with that, if you have a contract you need to honour it. But we must understand the player’s situation as well: as mentioned, a big move for a young player to a complete different place, with total different culture, language and a hard-cold weather to cope with.

A lot of rumours, opinions and hype went ahead for Lea’i as he returned back to his country in August, 2023. The player was unable to sign any contract until he was officially released by the Bosnian side – exactly on 31st May, 2024. Then, Lea’i moved on: unde the guidance of Player Project Performance from Adelaide, Australia – the same project guiding Vanuatu’s star Brian Kaltak for example – the player had the opportunity to move to Australia to pursue a contract with National Premier League side Adelaide City, one of the best well-known clubs in South Australia.

Although still not in a full-pro environment, Lea’i has made the correct move. The player will have the chance to play a much better football level than in Solomon Islands and definitely not so far from home, in a country with a strong Solomon Islander community – for example Micah Lea’alafa currently plays in the same region of Raphael Lea’i. The 20-year-old will have the chance to grow from the NPL level and possibly reach the professional level at A-League – the same path as Kaltak, for example.

With still a lot to come in his career, Lea’i has now to focus on his development and hit the group running in his upcoming challenges, the OFC Nations Cup for his national team and especially his club commitments when he returns back to Adelaide City. The talent everyone knows Lea’i has, the character to improve is in his DNA and now, with the off-the-pitch issues resolved, the player has everything to shine even brighter.