He's regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Pacific, and to prove the point Solomon Islands' Philip Mango won the Golden Glove award at the MSG Prime Ministers' Cup Tournament in New Caledonia just last year.
But after playing 30 times for his country since making his debut in 2016, he was ready to put his international playing career on hold.
Mango's plan was to continue to play club football for Central Coast in the Solomons' national league, but his broader focus is on building his coaching qualifications, after he was given the chance to attend the inaugural OFC Coach Educator Course in Tonga.
The confederation says the plan is to raise the quantity and calibre of coach educators, with the aim of increasing the number of qualified coaches across the region.
However since speaking to Pacific Beat, the keeper has been asked by Solomon Islands Football Federation to make himself available for the OFC Nations Cup next month, and he has agreed.
But the trip to Tonga was still another big step on his coaching journey, and Philip Mango's aim remains the same - to reach the top of the coaching tree.
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