Soakai played his guts out on Saturday for Otago but it still fell well short of Manawatu, losing 46-24 at Carisbrook to finish last in the ITM Cup.
In what has been a season from hell, Otago served up the usual array of mistakes and missed opportunities that have marked its year.
It was only Manawatu's third away win in five years in the domestic competition, and its biggest win over Otago since its 55-19 triumph in Palmerston North in 1981.
Soakai turned in his usual courageous effort and played himself to a standstill at times, but it was all to no avail as Otago fell away in the second half after Manawatu had led 18-7 at the break.
He said he had enjoyed the captaincy but it had been a tough season.
"It has not been the most enjoyable year and it never is if you don't win," Soakai said.
"I think it is important for each individual to look at themselves on and off the field in what they did. If you haven't learned from this then you might as well not turn up next year.
"I think player recruitment and retention is very important for next year.
"But at the end of the day I've got faith in what Phil [coach Phil Mooney] is trying to do, his philosophy and what he is trying to preach as a coach."
Soakai at times appeared to be taking Manawatu on his own on Saturday.
He said while one player could make a difference on the field, a committed team of 22 following the game plan would be hard to beat.
"We've just had key guys fall over at the wrong time. Kees [Meeuws] going down, Thommo [Adam Thomson] getting injured, and then Ben [Smith] going away with the [Commonwealth Games team] sevens. When you lose that leadership group that means you don't have those key guys in the team.
"To me the 2011 season starts today. It is about the board, management sitting down thinking about who they're going to keep and who we're going to get. At the end of the day, player retention and recruitment is the key.
"If we say we've got to get rid of eight guys then we'll have to rebuild again and I don't know if that is the way forward."
Soakai scored the first try for Otago after just five minutes on Saturday when he robbed Manawatu first five-eighth Aaron Cruden of the ball and sprinted 45m to score.
But that was as good as it got for Otago in the first half as it struggled to obtain any territory, while any possession it got, it kicked away.
Manawatu scored a couple of well-constructed tries through No 8 James Oliver and former Otago fullback Craig Clare.
Otago then got back into the match five minutes into the second half when Manawatu winger Casey Stone threw a shocking pass which was intercepted by centre Paula Kinikinilau, who ran 30m to score.
Chris Noakes then knocked over a penalty five minutes later and Otago was handy.
But it fell apart, and when Manawatu centre Hadleigh Parkes intercepted a pass from Smith to score under the posts, the match was all over for Otago.
Glenn Dickson scored a try under the posts with 10 minutes left but the game was gone for the home side.
Cruden was quality for Manawatu, while its loose forward trio won the breakdown battle and caused problems for the Otago attack.
Apart from Soakai, Kinikinilau made a couple of good breaks and Brad Cameron toiled well.
But too many in the blue and gold jersey are not good enough to play at this level, and that is why Otago finished where it did - last.
ITM Cup
Manawatu 46: James Oliver, Craig Clare, Hadleigh Parkes, Rob Foreman, Lewis Marshall, Karl Bryson tries; Aaron Cruden 4 pen, 2 con
Otago 24: Alando Soakai, Paula Kinikinilau, Glenn Dickson tries; Chris Noakes pen, 2 con, Dickson con
Halftime: Manawatu 18-7
Crowd: 3500
