Raphael Lea'i Explained

Raphael Lea'i
Fullname:Raphael Ohanua Lea'i Jr.
Birth Date:9 September 2003
Birth Place:Honiara, Solomon Islands
Height:1.60 m
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Adelaide City
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2015
Youthclubs1:Kossa
Youthyears2:2016–2018
Youthclubs2:Marist
Years1:2018
Clubs1:Marist
Caps1:6
Goals1:4
Years2:2019–2023
Clubs2:Henderson Eels
Caps2:44
Goals2:91
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Velež Mostar
Caps3:12
Goals3:2
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Adelaide City
Caps4:7
Goals4:2
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:14
Nationalyears2:2022–
Nationalteam2:Solomon Islands
Nationalcaps2:19
Nationalgoals2:11
Club-Update:18 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:18 June 2024

Raphael Ohanua Lea'i Jr. (born 9 September 2003) is a Solomon Islands professional footballer who plays as a striker for NPL South Australia club Adelaide City and the Solomon Islands national team. He is the first Solomon Islands player to have played professional football in Europe.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life

Lea'i was born on 9 September 2003 in Honiara. Taking up futsal at the age of 12, he played for local side Kossa before moving to Marist.[6]

Club career

Marist

Following promising performances at international level, Lea'i was noticed by foreign clubs, including Argentine Primera División club Deportivo Godoy Cruz and Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar. Both clubs offered him a trial, however due to FIFA regulations on youth footballers, he was unable to sign an overseas professional contract before the age of 18.[7] [8]

By the end of 2018, Lea'i had made his senior debut for Marist scoring four goals across six matches in the 2018 Solomon Islands S-League. For 2019, Lea'i was offered a scholarship to New Zealand high school Scots College, affiliated with A-League club Wellington Phoenix; the school had previously seen foreign scholarship awardees move to professional clubs, including Eugenio Pizzuto and Calvin Harris.[9] Though unable to appear in competitive matches for Phoenix youth sides due to FIFA laws preventing the foreign transfer of players under 18, Lea'i ended the season as the local Wellington high school league's top scorer, having scored 15 of Scots' 41 goals for the season.[10]

Henderson Eels

Following his time in New Zealand, Lea'i signed with Henderson Eels for the end of the 2019–20 S-League season. In his first season he scored 24 goals in seven matches, including a haul of 11 goals in a single match against Real Kakamora.[11] [12] At the end of the 2019–20 S-League season, Lea'i was invited to a weeklong trial with A-League side Melbourne Victory.[13] During the beginning of the 2021–22 Solomon Islands S-League season, he was offered a trial with Turkish Süper Lig side Alanyaspor, however Visa issues caused this to be delayed.[14]

Velež Mostar

In January 2023, it was announced that Lea'i was returning to Europe to trial with Velež Mostar of the Bosnian Premier League.[15] It was originally reported that the stint in Bosnia and Herzegovina was only part of the player's preparation for another trial with Alanyaspor. However, it was later clarified that Lea'i was traveling to Turkey with Mostar as part of his trial with the club.[16] After a successful trial match against Neretvanac Opuzen of Croatia's 3. NL, Lea'i signed a contract with the club until the end of the 2023–24 season.[17] [18] In the process, Lea'i become the first Solomon Islander to sign for a professional club in Europe.[19]

He scored his first goal for the club on 12 May 2023 on his first start in a game against Igman Konjic. In September 2023, Lea'i returned home after bouts of homesickness, staying on the team's books and thus did not appear again with the team at the time of his contract expiration on 30 May 2024.[20]

Adelaide City

In June 2024, after his contract with Velež Mostar expired, Lea'i signed for Adelaide City in the National Premier Leagues South Australia.[21]

International career

Youth

By the age of 14, Lea'i had impressed enough to be selected for the 2017 OFC Youth Futsal Tournament. Despite being three years younger than some of his opponents, Lea'i shone through as the tournament's best player and top scorer, scoring 34 goals in six matches. He was pivotal to the success of the undefeated Solomon Islands team, helping them sweep aside the competition to take the title as well as qualifying for the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina. At the 2018 Youth Olympics, Lea'i scored seven goals as the Solomon Islands were eliminated in the group stage.

In September 2018, Lea'i was selected for the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship, held in Honiara. Once again, he was crucial to the success of the Solomon Islands team, scoring seven goals in three consecutive 5–0 wins over Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Vanuatu. Solomon Islands subsequently qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup by defeating Fiji 3–1 in the semi-final. In the final, he missed a penalty just before full-time, with New Zealand eventually prevailing 5–4 in a penalty shootout.[6]

Lea'i was selected to take part in the 2019 U-17 Minsk Tournament in preparation for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored in all three games; one in a 2–1 win over Moldova, as well as a goal in a 1–1 draw against Belarus and both goals in a 2–2 draw against Kazakhstan.[10]

In the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Lea'i appeared in all three games - against Italy, Paraguay and Mexico - as the Solomon Islands were eliminated in the group stage.

Senior

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Lea'i scored all three goals in a 3–1 win against Tahiti to cement Solomon Islands' spot top of Group A and qualify to the semi-finals as group winners.[22]

On 8 October 2023, he scored his second international hat-trick against Papua New Guinea winning the match 3–1 in the 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup. He was later awarded the player of the tournament award.[23]

Career statistics

Club

.[24]

ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup[25] Continental[26] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Marist2018S-League6464
Henderson Eels2019–20S-League724321026
2020–2120332033
2021–22712712
2022–2310221022
Velež Mostar2022–23Premier League BH10110111
2023–24210021
Adelaide City2024NPL South Australia720072
Career total699910320073101

International

.

Solomon Islands
YearAppsGoals
202275
202386
202440
Total1911

Scores and results list the Solomon Islands' goal tally first.[27]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 24 March 2022 Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha, Qatar align=center 1–0 align=center rowspan="3" 3–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. align=center 2–1
3. align=center 3–1
4. 27 March 2022 Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha, Qataralign=center 3–1 align=center 3–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 24 September 2022 Luganville Stadium, Luganville, Vanuatu align=center 1–0 2–2 2022 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
6. 14 June 2023 Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Terengganu, Malaysia align=center 1–0 1–4 Friendly
7. 8 October 2023 Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia align=center 1–1 align=center rowspan="3" 3–1 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
8. align=center 2–1
9. align=center 3–1
10. 14 October 2023 Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia align=center 1–0 1–0 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
11. 28 November 2023 2023 Pacific Games

Honours

Henderson Eels

2020–21[28]

Solomon Islands U18 (futsal)

2017[29]

Solomon Islands U17

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prvi igrač sa Solomonskih Ostrva u Evropi: Raphael Lea'i u "Veležu" želi ostvariti dječački san. aa.com.tr. 2023-06-22. 2023-06-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20230609003428/https://www.aa.com.tr/ba/sport/prvi-igra%C4%8D-sa-solomonskih-ostrva-u-evropi-raphael-leai-u-vele%C5%BEu-%C5%BEeli-ostvariti-dje%C4%8Da%C4%8Dki-san/2860971. live.
  2. Web site: Unearthing Raphael Lea’i. khelnow.com. 2023-06-08. 2023-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608194337/https://khelnow.com/football/2023-03-world-football-unearthing-raphael-leai. live.
  3. Web site: Solomon Islands' young soccer star Raphael Lea'i focussed on securing a pro deal in Europe. abc.net.au. 2023-01-26. 2023-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20230126232701/https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/sols-rapha-trial/101875262. live.
  4. Web site: Rafa impressive. solomonstarnews.com. 2023-06-08. 2023-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608194336/https://www.solomonstarnews.com/rafa-impressive/. live.
  5. Web site: Raphael Lea’i talks media hype and career ambitions. footballoceania.com. 2023-06-08. 2023-03-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20230329232909/https://footballoceania.com/2021/09/20/raphael-leai-talks-media-hype-and-career-ambitions/. live.
  6. Web site: Raphael Lea'i, an artist in football and futsal . . 2 October 2018 . 1 March 2020 . 1 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200301130804/https://mycujoo.tv/en/media/players/raphael-leai/features/raphael-leai-an-artist-in-football-and-futsal . live .
  7. Web site: A-League club wants Rafa . The Island Sun . 20 November 2018 . 1 March 2020 . 28 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230128203200/https://theislandsun.com.sb/a-league-club-wants-rafa/ . live .
  8. Web site: No Argentina trial for Solomon youngster Raphael Lea'i . FootballOceania.com . 29 November 2018 . 1 March 2020 . 30 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130093214/https://footballoceania.com/2018/11/29/no-argentina-trial-for-solomon-youngster-raphael-leai/ . live .
  9. Web site: Soccer Youngster Off to New Zealand . SolomonTimes.com . 28 February 2019 . 1 March 2020 . 28 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230128193441/https://www.solomontimes.com/news/soccer-youngster-off-to-new-zealand/8885 . live .
  10. Web site: 30 December 2019 . The brilliant year of Raphael Lea'i . 1 March 2020 . Oceania Football Center . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118191803/https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2019/12/30/the-brilliant-year-of-raphael-leai/ . live .
  11. Web site: 25 January 2020 . Raphael Lea'i scores 11 as Henderson Eels demolishes Kakamora . 1 March 2020 . Oceania Football Center . 21 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121233538/https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/01/25/raphael-leai-scores-11-as-henderson-eels-demolishes-kakamora/ . live .
  12. Web site: 29 January 2020 . Raphael Lea'i wins TSL Golden Boot . 1 March 2020 . Oceania Football Center . 27 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127200942/https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/01/29/raphael-leai-wins-tsl-golden-boot/ . live .
  13. Web site: Raphael Leai & Leon Kofana off for trial with Melbourne Victory . . 29 February 2020 . 1 March 2020.
  14. Web site: Rafa returns . Aruafu . Carlos . . 20 August 2022 . 31 August 2022 . 30 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130093214/https://www.solomonstarnews.com/rafa-returns/ . live .
  15. Web site: Ewart . Richard . Solomon Islands' young soccer star Raphael Lea'i focussed on securing a pro deal in Europe . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 25 January 2023 . 26 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230126232701/https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/sols-rapha-trial/101875262 . live .
  16. Web site: Raphael Lea’i Close to Deal in Europe . Solomon Times . 25 January 2023 . 24 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124082701/https://www.solomontimes.com/news/raphael-leai-close-to-deal-in-europe/12375 . live .
  17. Web site: Saltori . Rafael . Europe: Raphael Lea’i displays superb performance and scores in his first friendly match . Oceania Football Center . 25 January 2023 . 26 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230126112200/https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2023/01/24/europpe-raphael-leai-displays-superb-performance-and-scores-in-his-first-friendly-mattch/ . live .
  18. Web site: WELCOME TO VELEŽ, RAPHAEL! . FK Velež Mostar . 29 January 2023 . 29 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129175500/https://fkvelez.ba/welcome-to-velez-raphael/?fbclid=IwAR2gp6rqEd-K8GvjFZT7GCFgo6p5zfDpFhLEWl0JTfAo-6TJo994u0_Oe0E . live .
  19. Web site: Solomons' striker signs for top Bosnian football club . Radio New Zealand . 8 February 2023 . 8 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208160410/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/483378/solomons-striker-signs-for-top-bosnian-football-club . live .
  20. Web site: 2 September 2023 . Raphael Lea’i situation explained: Green light is given for international duties and homecoming permission by FK Velež Mostar . 7 November 2023 . Oceania Football Center.
  21. Web site: 8 June 2024. Raphael Lea’i signs with Adelaide City FC for remainder of NPL Season in Australia. Oceania Football Center.
  22. Web site: Goal, Raphael LEA'I (Solomon Islands) . Elevensports . 24 March 2022 . 24 March 2022 . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325140244/https://elevensports.com/en/view/highlight/cl156bcoo415q169a1au4cyfw?g=26W75hb1xL5w2dUh9h1f6Zv0UNE . live .
  23. Web site: DOUBLE AWARD - Rapheal Lea’i was named the Golden boot winner and Best Player of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup 2023. #MPC2023 #RL10 — at Stade Numa-Daly. Solomon Islands National Team Facebook. 2023-10-14.
  24. Web site: Raphael LEA'I. Fiji Football Association. 6 August 2023.
  25. Includes Solomon Cup and Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup
  26. Includes OFC Champions League
  27. Web site: Leai, Raphael. National Football Teams. 2022-03-24. 2022-03-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20220324160257/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/86679/Raphael_Leai.html. live.
  28. Web site: Henderson Eels secure first TSL title. Solomon Islands Football Federation. 21 March 2021. 21 May 2023. 21 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191730/https://www.siff.com.sb/henderson-eels-secure-first-tsl-title. live.
  29. Web site: OFC Youth Futsal Tournament 2017 - Men's. Oceania Football Confederation. 21 May 2023. 21 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191716/https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-youth-futsal-tournament-mens-2017-453578. live.
  30. Web site: 2018 OFC U-16 Championship. Oceania Football Confederation. 21 May 2023. 21 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191717/https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-u-16-championship/2018-ofc-u-16-championship. live.