INGOAL Partner With Upper Hutt City Football
This year Callum Kennett from INGOAL has moved into the role of Head of Goalkeeping Development for Upper Hutt City Football.
OFC Pro League begins - with a familiar face in goal for the Solomon Kings
The OFC Pro League kicked off this week, marking the start of a new professional club competition featuring eight teams from across Oceania.
Among them are Solomon Kings, captained by goalkeeper Phillip Mango — a player whose journey has a long and personal connection to James Bannatyne from his work with the Oceania Football Confederation.
Main photo: Phillip Mango ready to lead the Solomon Kings onto the pitch for their first game in the OFC Pro League Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
James Bannatyne, an OFC Goalkeeping Consultant, has spent more than a decade delivering goalkeeper and goalkeeper-coach programmes throughout the Pacific Islands. It was during an OFC Goalkeeping Course in the Solomon Islands in 2012 that he first met Phillip Mango, then a young goalkeeper eager to learn.
“We didn’t have any goalkeeper coaches, so it was a bit challenging for us to train,” Mango said. “We just looked and learned from You Tube and the FIFA goalkeeping manual from James first visit to Honiara in the Solomon Islands.”
Since then, Mango has built an impressive career. He has represented the Solomon Islands at U-17 and U-20 level, before becoming a senior international with 33 caps. This week, he captained the first professional team from his home nation, Solomon Kings, onto the pitch in the opening round of the OFC Pro League.
Bannatyne and Mango have stayed in contact since they met in 2012 and have developed a father-son like relationship. After Phillip and his wife Rosie experienced the loss of two children due to childbirth complications, Bannatyne organised a fundraiser in New Zealand through his football network to support the family. The funds were used towards their eldest daughter Leonar’s education at Woodford International School in Honiara.
In 2024 Phillip and Rosie welcomed a baby boy, who they named Jayven Mango Bannatyne.
Solomon Kings opened their Pro League campaign with a 1–0 win over PNG Hekari at Eden Park, Auckland, on Sunday January 18th.
Their scheduled Wednesday January 21 match against South Melbourne was postponed due to bad weather and will be played later in the series.
Solomon Kings return to action on Saturday January 24th.
Solomon Kings v Tahiti United
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland
2.30pm
Photo: Solomon Kings Captain Phillip Mango (in green) shakes hands with PNG Hekari Captain Dave Tomare before their first game in the OFC Pro League Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
Phillip Mango uses Reusch goalkeeping gloves, and is very grateful to be sponsored wearing the same brand as Liverpool #1 Alison.
