Previewing an intense second half of the Telekom S-League season—who will come out on top?

The most intense title race in the history of the Telekom S-League so far is only heating up even further as five of the league’s total 12 sides are in serious contention to lay claim to the TSL championship trophy. Known powerhouses Central Coast and Solomon Warriors, perennial contenders Laugu and Waneagu United, and most surprisingly, a resurgent and young Real Kakamora are all vying for the top spot as play resumes on 20th July. In arguably the greatest and most publicized year of the competition’s existence, who will win the championship—and more importantly, earn qualification to the next edition of the OFC Champions League?

The league’s newfound popularity, spurred in part by the worldwide online success of Real Kakamora following a historically inept winless season and their ensuing rejuvenation, will begin streaming matches on FIFA+ following the restoration of electricity to Lawson Tama Stadium by the Honiara City Council and Solomon Power—and many supporters from around the world, including the United States, England, and Australia, are also anticipating the return of the league, giving the contest a more international appeal than ever before, with online views of the TSL surpassing every other league in the OFC—combined!

The country’s most dominant domestic force and eight-time champions, Solomon Warriors, are looking markedly different from when play last stopped before the TSL’s mid-season break. Notably losing key offensive pieces Tigi Molea, Gagame Feni, and Jaygray Sipakana to Labasa and Suva FC in Fiji’s Digicel Premier League, Warriors have considerably less depth up front on the attack but have announced the transfer of Solomon U19 standout striker and wonderkid James Laena of Western Province.

If Laena can develop to the potential he displayed in Samoa this past month, he can serve as a long-term replacement for Tigi, who leaves Solomon Warriors as the all time club leader in TSL goals, assists, and appearances since his debut in 2010. Warriors finished the first half of the season on a 2-2 draw to surging Waneagu, but due to previous match cancellations motivated of having players on international duty, they have only played six matches with an unbeaten 5-1-0 start, and sit only two points behind league leaders Real Kakamora. In response to the club’s notable veteran losses, Warriors remain optimistic they can capture their third straight league championship and ninth overall, and resume play against Kossa on 21th July. Sitting in second place with a favorable position in regards to games played, Warriors may have the easiest path to the title if they are able to continue their run of form despite losing many of their star players.

Central Coast, also sitting at six games played due to having the maximum amount of international players on duty overseas during the OFC Nations Cup, have jumped out to a similarly impressive 4-2-0 unbeaten start with dominant margins of victory, defeating bottom feeders SOSA and Juniper by scores of 6-1 and 5-0 to start the season, which was followed up by a 4-0 win to Kossa and a five-star performance over league leaders Real Kakamora, closing out the first half of the season with a 5-1 victory. Led by the powerful Bobby Leslie and Hudyn Irodao, who have scored 14 combined goals so far, Central Coast also lost top marksman and national team player Junior Fordney over the international transfer window to Labasa FC of Fiji, but look poised to continue their scorching run of form when they resume play on 20 July against Spencer Vaeo and mid-table Honiara City.

Laugu United currently sit third in the Telekom S-League table, sitting at 16 points along with Warriors and Waneagu, and made it a priority to bolster an already strong squad featuring internationals Chris Ha’atarau and Ben Fox over the course of the transfer window. Dickson Maggie and the Solomon Islands national team star Atkin Kaua also joined Laugu during the current transfer window. From Fiji, Laugu added Jared Rongosulia of Navua FC to improve an already strong midfield, Laugu narrowly lost to league leaders Real Kakamora on a second half strike from midfielder Michael Lalo in addition to suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Warriors earlier in the season, but have the benefit of playing struggling SOSA FC to re-open the season on 20th July. Does Laugu have the firepower to push for the league championship after a disappointing mid-table finish last season?

Last season and 2021/22’s league bronze medalists, the developing powerhouse Waneagu United, got off to a relatively weak start to their 2024/25 campaign with no wins in their first four matches, although three were draws, including a pulsating 2-2 affair with Central Coast. Since that point, Waneagu have been 4-1-0 in their last five—with the only draw coming to Solomon Warriors in a match that saw Waneagu jump to a quick 2-0 lead before surrendering the equalizer just before halftime to John Alick in a match that ended even at two-goals a side. Waneagu face arguably their biggest test yet as they resume their season against league leaders Kakamora on 21th July, hoping to prove that their strong end to the first half of the season will carry over into the second round.

Last but not least, league leaders Real Kakamora have shattered the shackles of defeat that once confined them to their status as ‘the worst football club in the world’, reversing a dubious 0-0-22 finish into a commanding 6-0-3 start in nine matches that have gained them the top spot of the table through the first half of the season!

After gaining global attention online in recent months as a result of their previous seasons, Kakamora has risen and became the most followed football club in social meida of the entire OFC region, with supporters from all around the world celebrating in delight as RKFC has turned their fortunes around.

With the help of its superstar and fan favorite U19 player Paul Francis, who currently leads the league in goals scored and is coming off a hattrick in the second half of the OFC U19 Championship third-place game against Fiji, fellow U19 defender Gordon Iro, who also scored a goal of his own and even won a Man of the Match award in the Solomon Islands’ opening match of the tournament, in addition to fellow young talents Michael Lalo, Isaac Kieran, to veteran Jeffery Bule and national team backup goalkeeper Harold Nauania, Kakamora (with the help of former HFA side Green Shield FC, which has managed the club this year along with the Makira-Ulawa Football Association) looks to continue their fairytale run and maintain their top of the league spot with a high stakes contest against Waneagu when the season resumes on 21th July. Notably, 22-year old defender and Solomon international Leon Kofana has also been reported to have signed with the club according to sources close to management, which would make for an incredible back line already consisting of Gordon Iro. Will Kakamora delight their supporters both within the country and around the globe with their first TSL championship? They certainly have the young talent to accomplish such a feat, so only time will tell if they can follow through on their torrid start.