National Solomon Islands team players Rovu Boyers and Gordon Iro have made history as the first footballers from their country to participate in the OFC Placement Programme, marking a milestone for Pacific football development.

Their professional training placements have been made possible through collaboration with Auckland FC, the newly established yet rapidly ascending professional club based in Auckland who compete in the A-League and will soon line up in the new OFC Professional League, which kicks off in January.

“We’re confident that exposing players in the region to these opportunities not only means they have a great experience which hopefully challenges them, but allows them and the coaches involved to better understand what top amateur or professional environments look like, taking the lessons back to their home countries to share the experience. The other key aspect is that it can provide the players in particular with an understanding of what it takes to play in these types of environments, potentially lighting the fire for them to kick on to another level, or creating an opportunity for clubs to see them for an extended period of time in training.” said OFC High Performance Consultant Dave Wright.

For Solomon Islanders Boyers and Iro, this experience is both an honour and a challenge, an opportunity to immerse themselves in a high-performance environment that sets the benchmark for professional football in the Pacific.

“There is a big difference in standard here compared to semi-pro leagues,” said midfielder Rovu Boyers. “There’s a big gap and hopefully I can close that gap if I gain more experience. I feel very proud, honoured, and grateful that I’ve been given a chance here.”

Defender Gordon Iro, who is focusing his development as a centre back, echoed those sentiments:

“I’m thankful to God for this opportunity to come here and train in New Zealand with Auckland FC. The players here are fast. The ball movement is fast.”

The OFC Placement Programme, initiated by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), aims to bridge the gap between Pacific football and the professional game. Through partnerships with clubs like Auckland FC, it provides players and coaches from across the region with exposure to elite-level training, tactical development, and the professional culture needed to thrive internationally.

“By exposing players and staff to overseas environments, we give them a taste of what is (potentially) a higher level than they have experienced before. We know that for players to develop, they have to be stretched and supported. By placing players into new environments where the football is hopefully a good challenge, but ensuring they have support wrapped around them in the form of a local coach from their MA and strong club environments, we are confident this experience will add to their development longer term, as well as potentially create opportunities for players in the region.” Wright added.

Adding further depth to the initiative is the involvement of Benjamin Totori, a Solomon Islands football legend who has joined Auckland FC on placement as a supporting coach. Totori, well-known for his stints with Wellington Phoenix and several New Zealand clubs, is now gaining experience in modern coaching systems while mentoring the next generation of Pacific talent.

“For me as a coach, it helps me learn new ideas and is a refresher of what it’s like to play at this level,” said Totori. “For these two boys, it’s a stepping stone for their professional football careers.”

“We are excited about this initiative to work with the OFC to create a pathway for players from across the region to Auckland FC. These countries have proudly produced A-League players such as Roy Krishna, Brian Kaltak and Benji Totori himself,” says Doug Kors, Head of Player Recruitment at Auckland FC.

“These programs are about providing opportunities for players to be seen and to experience time training in our environment. It would be a great outcome for our club to identify a player through these programs and see another OFC player in the A-League representing Auckland FC.” Kors added.