Telekom S-League Explained

Telekom S-League
Pixels:200px
Country: Solomon Islands
Confed:OFC
Founded:2000
Teams:12
Levels:1
Confed Cup:OFC Champions League
Champions:Solomon Warriors
Season:2023
Most Champs:Solomon Warriors
(9 titles)
Top Goalscorer:Raphael Le'ai
(95 goals)
Website:siff.com.sb
Current:2024 Solomon Islands S-League

The Telekom S-League, commonly known as just the Solomon Islands S-League or more simply the S-League for sponsorship reasons, is a semi professional league and the top division of the Solomon Islands Football Federation. It was known as the Solomon Islands National Club Championship from 2000 until 2010, when the official name was changed.[1]

Format

In the current format, all teams compete in a round robin, where the team that ends at the first place are crowned champions. Together with the second-placed team, they qualify for the OFC Champions League. The bottom team is then relegated to the Second Division, while the best performing team from that league is promoted to this league.

History

Interprovincial Tournament (1977–85)

This tournament had begun the early football in Solomon Islands. It was held by the FA of the Solomon Islands.

National Club Championship (2000–10)

The Solomon Islands S-League was founded in 2000, with Koloale taking out the first premiership title. The final championship was the 2009–10 season, with the next season renamed to the Telekom S-League.[2]

The Knockout Championship (2011–12)

All teams of the league played a knockout tournament after the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, called the Knockout Championship. The winners of both competitions played a two legged play-off for a place in the OFC Champions League. In the case of the 2011–12 season play-off, Solomon Warriors won both these competitions and automatically qualified. The 8-team competition was abandoned in the 2013–14 season due to the increase of teams from 8 to 9.

Telekom S-League (2010–present)

In 2011, the competition was renamed to the Telekom S-League.[3] Marist, Koloale, Kossa, Solomon Warriors, Makuru, Hana, Western United and Fasi Roos participated in the initial season of the new league.[4] The first inaugural S-League was won by Koloale.

Teams

Teams as of the 2020–21 season.

Teams as of the 2021 season.

Previous winners

Season! scope="col"
Winner
2000Laugu United
2001Koloale
2002Koloale
2003Koloale
2004Central Realas
2006Marist Fire
2006–07Kossa
2007–08Koloale
2008–09Marist Fire
2009–10Koloale
Season! scope="col"
Winner
2010–11Koloale
2011–12Solomon Warriors
2013–14Solomon Warriors
2014–15Western United
2015–16Solomon Warriors
2016Marist Fire
2017–18Solomon Warriors
2018Solomon Warriors
2019–20Solomon Warriors
2020–21Henderson Eels
2021Central Coast
2022-23Solomon Warriors
2023Solomon Warriors
Season! scope="col"
Winner
2011Solomon Warriors
2012Solomon Warriors
2017–18Solomon Warriors
Season! scope="col"
WinnerRunner-up
2011Koloale[5] Solomon Warriors
2012Solomon Warriors
Season! scope="col"
Winner
2015–16Solomon Warriors

Performances

Performance by club

ClubWinnersWinning years
Solomon Warriors92011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2023.
Koloale62001, 2002, 2003, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11
Marist Fire32005–06, 2008–09, 2016
Western United22014–15
Laugu United12000
Central Realas12004
Kossa12006–07
Henderson Eels12020–21

Top goalscorers

SeasonGoalscorerTeamGoals
2010-11 Benjamin TotoriKoloale23
2013-14 Dennis IfunaoaSolomon Warriors11
2016 James NakaWestern United27
2017-18 Tommy SemmyMalaita Kingz17
2018 Kensi TangisSolomon Warriors23
2019-20 Raphael Lea'iHenderson Eels24
2020-21 Joses NawoHenderson Eelsbgcolor=mistyrose35
2021 Gagame FeniKossa 14
Molea TigiSolomon Warriors
2022-23 Gagame FeniKossa 34
2023-24 Molea TigiSolomon Warriors30
Most goals in a single season:
Most goals in a single game:

Multiple hat-tricks

RankCountry PlayerHat-tricks
1Raphael Lea'i12
2Gagame Feni9
3Joses Nawo7
Molea Tigi
5Bobby Leslie5
6Harrison Mala4
7Edward Huniuehu3
Bently Kelobi
9Lore Fonaota2
Junior Fordney
Tony Kaltack
Adrian Mara
John Orobulu
14Jack Jr Ani1
Jerry Donga
Mike Foai
Paul Francis
Augustine Halumwani
Chris Hatarau
Gibson Hiulaungia
Mathias Iani
Dennis Ifunaoa
Darol Kakasi
Atkin Kaua
Norman Ngafu
Lency Norman
Junior Rocky
Alfred Sade
Emmanuel Simon
Jaygray Sipakana
Stanley Sope
Bartholomew Talakoro
Milton Taolo
Wesley Toitani
Benjamin Totori
Javin Wae
Coleman Wasi
Most hat-tricks in a single season:
Most hat-tricks by a player in a single season:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Solomon Islands - List of Champions. RSSSF. 2019-04-21. 31 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230331211836/https://rsssf.org/tabless/solomchamp.html. live.
  2. Web site: Category: Telekom S-League. Solomon Football. en-US. 2019-04-21. 21 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421061824/https://www.siff.com.sb/category/telekom-s-league/. live.
  3. Web site: Telekom S-League kicks off Saturday. 10 February 2011. Solomon Islands Football Federation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063013/http://www.siff.com.sb/News/ViewArticle/tabid/1258/Article/ed63f6c8-1824-4e26-857b-47bd1219948d/language/en-US/Default.aspx. 4 March 2016. 19 May 2020.
  4. Web site: NSL Media Statement. 5 January 2011. Solomon Islands Football Federation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124120/http://www.siff.com.sb/News/ViewArticle/tabid/1258/Article/9db2712f-d646-4bd5-a2c9-d3855136a70e/language/en-US/Default.aspx. 4 March 2016. 14 May 2011.
  5. Web site: Koloale qualify for third O-League. SIFF. 27 June 2011. 16 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928110809/http://www.siff.com.sb/News/ViewArticle/tabid/1258/Article/fefece1f-c567-4724-8aaa-7e715cf0e3ec/language/en-US/Default.aspx. 28 September 2011. dmy-all.