Making it to the quarter final of the OFC Champions League with Solomon Warriors was the icing on the cake for Gagame Feni after his side topped the S-League this season.
That successful run was made all the more sweeter last week during the annual S-League awards when the Solomon Islands international was awarded the Golden Ball.
The 27-year-old wasn’t expecting any kind of individual acknowldegement in a season which saw the Warriors take out the double last season.
“To be honest with you, I don’t know what to say I am speechless,” Feni said from New Zealand where he is playing with Havelock North Wanderers in the Central Premier League.
“To win the TSL Player of the Season is very rare because every player wants it. For me it’s like a fairy tale story and now it’s happened in real life so I just can’t believe I’ve won it.”
Although he is coming off a season which included scoring all four goals in a 4-3 win over S-League runners-up Marist FC, Feni is relishing the confidence boost that comes with being a Golden Ball recipient.
“Winning the Golden Ball, it sets me off on the right path I guess and makes me want to strive for more,” he said.
“It gives me lots of confidence especially playing here in New Zealand.”
The award, while for individual performance, is something Feni said wouldn’t have been possible without his teammates.
“To my Solomon Warriors teammates, thank you for helping me win this award. Without all of you and the coaching team, I wouldn’t have been able to be named player of the season.”
Feni is doing well with Wanderers since making his debut at the end of April scoring in all three of his matches so far.