Raphael Lea’i makes immediate Central Coast impact ahead of OFC Champions League challenge

Raphael Lea’i has made an immediate impact on his return to domestic football in the Solomon Islands, scoring his first two goals for Central Coast FC in only his second appearance for the club ahead of the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League.

The Solomon Islands international struck twice as Central Coast defeated Malaita Kingz 5-2 in the S-League last Saturday, helping the defending champions record their second consecutive victory at the beginning of the new domestic campaign.

Lea’i’s brace was particularly timely for Central Coast. The 22-year-old had made his debut in the club’s 1-0 opening-round victory over Marist FC before opening his scoring account one week later, providing an early indication of the attacking influence he could have during the regional tournament in Fiji.

His second goal against Malaita Kingz arrived five minutes after half-time and gave Central Coast a 3-1 advantage. Junior Fordney was also among the scorers as Jacob Moli’s side produced a convincing final competitive performance before travelling to Fiji.

Lea’i is one of nine players added to the Central Coast squad after representing Solomon Kings in the inaugural OFC Pro League season. Javin Wae, Junior David and Bobby Leslie are also among the reinforcements bringing professional-level experience into the three-time S-League champions.

Central Coast coach Jacob Moli has already highlighted the influence of the returning Solomon Kings players, whose presence has increased the standard of the club’s training sessions. Their arrival has strengthened a squad containing several Solomon Islands internationals and 17 players with previous OFC Men’s Champions League experience.

For Lea’i, the early goals also provide an encouraging response after a difficult individual campaign with Solomon Kings. The forward scored once in 15 OFC Pro League appearances, but his record for the Solomon Islands national team—14 goals in 26 matches—continues to underline his ability in front of goal.

He has also previously shown that quality in the region’s leading club competition. Lea’i scored twice in three appearances during his first Champions League campaign as a teenager in 2020. Six years later, he returns to the tournament as a more experienced player after spells in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia and the OFC Pro League.

Central Coast will need that experience after being placed in a demanding group alongside Auckland City, AS Vénus and AS Tiga Sport. Their campaign begins on Monday against 13-time Oceania champions Auckland City at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The Solomon Islands champions will then meet Tahitian side AS Vénus at the same venue on Thursday before completing the group stage against New Caledonia’s AS Tiga Sport in Ba on Sunday. The top two teams will progress to the semi-finals.

Central Coast reached the last four of the Champions League in 2022, when Auckland City ended their campaign with a 2-0 victory. They returned to the tournament as hosts in 2025 but were eliminated during the group stage.

Limited preparation remains a concern for Moli’s side, with the new S-League season only beginning shortly before the continental competition. However, consecutive domestic victories and Lea’i’s immediate contribution have offered encouraging signs before Central Coast face the strongest test of their new campaign.

After scoring his first Central Coast goals in only his second match, Lea’i now enters the OFC Men’s Champions League with an opportunity to turn his promising start into a significant continental campaign.