BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Solomon Kings FC captain Philip Mango has credited the overwhelming support from the Solomon Islands community in Melbourne as a driving force behind the team’s determined victory on Sunday.
In a pulsating encounter played under torrential rain, the Kings held firm to secure all three points — a result that has lifted them one place up the standings into third position.
From the moment the players stepped onto the pitch, it was clear they were not alone.
A sea of Solomon Islands flags, loud cheers and the familiar chant of “Go Solo Go” echoed around, creating what Mango described as a feeling of home away from home.
“I would like to thank the supporters who came out in numbers today to support us boys”, Mango said in his post-match interview.
“By looking at the supporters’ turnout today, it really motivated us players to do our best because they spent five hours just to travel and watch us playing here today. So, we would like to give back the victory to them”, he added.
The Kings responded with intensity from kickoff, dominating possession and combining well in attack before finding the back of the net for the opening goal.
Mango admitted the fans’ presence played a major role in that fiery start.
“We were motivated by our fans”.
“There were a lot of combination plays because they were cheering for us, so it’s a positive for us”, Mango said.
Despite the difficult conditions and the setback of having Atkin Kaya sent off, the Kings showed resilience and composure to protect their lead. The downpour did little to dampen their fighting spirit as they defended bravely and denied their opponents any opportunity to draw level.
The victory not only demonstrated the squad’s growing maturity but also highlighted their ability to grind out results under pressure — a quality that could prove vital in the remaining Melbourne fixtures.
Mango said hearing the supporters chant brought back memories of playing at Lawson Tama.
“It feels like we were back in Honiara,” he said. “I really appreciate how they supported us”.
The captain admitted the team was surprised — but deeply grateful — for the large turnout from the Solomon Islands community.
“We never expected the big Solomon Islands community to turn out today, but it’s a good number”, Mango added. “I simply want to thank them for their continued support towards us boys”.
With the Kings now sitting third on the table and building momentum, Mango calls on supporters to continue backing the team in their upcoming matches.
The message from the captain was clear: the Kings will keep fighting — and with the community behind them, they feel right at home, even thousands of kilometers away.
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