Season one of the OFC Pro League gave Javin Wae and Rafa Le'ai more than another football competition. For the Solomon Islands internationals, the campaign with Solomon Kings FC was a first-hand education in the demands, discipline and daily habits required to succeed in a professional environment.
Now, with attention turning towards season two, kicking off in January next year, Wae and Le'ai believe those experiences can help lift both their own performances and the standard of the team when the league returns in 2027.
The Kings were in the hunt at the business end of the inaugural campaign but ultimately missed out on a semi-final place after being edged out by Vanuatu United in the Challengers Group standings in the final round in Auckland.
For Wae the biggest adjustment was learning how to compete against different types of players, teams and styles at a professional level.
“The biggest thing I learned from the first season of the Pro League was playing against different professional players and different teams,” he said.
“It was the first time I played at that level, and I learned a lot about different ways teams play and how to prepare for big games.”
Le'ai, who has already experienced a professional environment in Europe (Bosnia Herzegovina) and semi-professional in Australia, revealed the OFC Pro League offered its own challenge because it brought together players, coaches and styles from across the Pacific and beyond.
“You play against different players from different countries, so the Pro League was tough,” Lea’i said. “But I enjoyed it. It was good for the players and good for football in the Solomon Islands.”
Missing out on the semi-finals has already shaped how both players are approaching season two. After seeing what the competition demands and how fine the margins can be when a semi-final place is on the line, Le'ai said the next step is to make sure Solomon Kings are better prepared from the very start.
“When we come back for the next Pro League, we need to prepare earlier so we are ready,” Le'ai admitted.
Wae agreed, saying his time with Central Coast FC has helped him maintain momentum and keep building towards the next campaign.
“When I look back, I know I need to prepare early for pre-season and for the Pro League to start,” Wae said. “I’m happy to be with Central Coast because I can keep training, keep preparing and build momentum for the next Pro League back home.”
That determination is fuelled by the support the Kings received during their first campaign. Solomon Islands supporters embraced the team and Wae’s goal in front of a packed National Stadium in Honiara became one of the standout moments of the season.
For Le'ai, those scenes showed why the OFC Pro League matters beyond the players already involved.
“It was good to play at home in front of our people,” he commented “For most of the boys from the islands it was their first time joining the Pro League. We believe that in the second season the boys will come back better and do well.”
There’s added motivation by the fact the Kings will get to play three regular season games at their Honiara fortress, and with the new look six team finals series also scheduled for the Solomon Islands capital, Wae and Le'ai have plenty of incentives.
Just as importantly, the duo want their experience to help guide the next generation of Solomon Islands players. Their message to young footballers is that becoming a professional is not only about ability; it is about attitude, standards and consistency every day.
“Stay disciplined, work hard and put prayer first in everything you do,” Le'ai said.
“If you want to become a professional player, you need to put God first, work hard, be committed and stay disciplined. That is the advice for the young players.”
“If training starts at 12 o’clock, you cannot arrive late,” Le'ai said. “You need to arrive early. That is part of learning how to become professional.”