Nicolas King: A star in the making, aiming to follow in Brian Kaltak’s Footsteps

Nicolas King, the towering 190cm, 20-year-old football talen, has recently made waves by leaving Mauriki FC in Vanuatu to join Valentine FC in Australia’s National Premier League (NPL) New South Wales.

Since making the move, King has been adjusting to his new environment and the elevated style of play. “I’m getting used to the environment and the style of play,” he shared. “It’s definitely different and heaps levels higher than what I played back in Vanuatu, but I’m enjoying it very much.”

Valentine FC has had a strong start to the season with four wins and four clean sheets, and King has been a significant part of this success. “We started off with four wins and four clean sheets. I played all the games so far in the season,” he said, underscoring his immediate impact on the team.

King’s transition to Australian football was inspired by fellow Vanuatu footballer Brian Kaltak, the only professional player from their country who currently plays in the A-League. “The goal to be able to continue what Brian Kaltak has started and hopefully get more talented players into Aussie,” King expressed.

Reflecting on how it all began, King recounted, “It started off when Brian came to Vanuatu after the A-League win last year. I spoke to my parents about it, and we brought him over. We set up a stage for him to speak about his experience to a group of about 100 people. After the show, I caught up with Brian and spoke to him a bit more, asked him some questions, and he told me he’d recommended me to Joshua James.” King is son of Julia King who is a former member of the Vanuatu women’s national football team and represented Vanuatu at the 2003 South Pacific Games and currently serves as Member of the Parliament of Vanuatu and is also a businesswoman.

Joshua James, believed to be the founder of the PPP Project that works alongside Kaltak, played a crucial role in King’s journey. “Joshua had come to Vanuatu to sort of know the place because he was going to be the brains behind Brian’s academy he is planning to start back home in Vanuatu,” King explained. “Whilst there, we managed to get in touch with him and so we caught up, and he said that with my height and physique, it would help my chances of getting into a club here better.“

King’s journey included trials with the Central Coast Mariners youth team and Central Coast United before he finally settled with Valentine FC. “I trialed with CCM for two weeks but I think they were only into their season at that point so they couldn’t bring in players, so they recommended Central Coast United. I trained with them for 2 days and before I came back to Vanuatu managed to get a trial with Valentine. Both clubs made offers, but I felt the coaching team and the environment at Valo would be better for my development and that’s how I ended up here.”

Playing as a left-sided center back, a position that isn’t his natural side, has been a challenge for King, but he’s adapting well. “Personally, I feel I’m improving. I’m seeing the game at a different level and changing little things here and there. At the moment, I’m playing on the left side as center back which is not my natural side, so that’s been my struggle but I’m getting used to it.”

King is also adapting to the faster pace and technical demands of Australian football. “I feel I’ve adapted pretty well, gotten used to the weather, and referring to style of play, I think it’s just done at such a quicker pace. In Vanuatu, you pass the ball however you want, whereas here you have to get technique right because it helps shift the ball faster and just little things. But I feel I’m growing and am enjoying it here.”

King’s aim is clear: “My aim is to make it pro in the next two years.” Given his progress and determination, this goal seems well within his reach. His journey from Vanuatu to Australia is a promising sign for the future of Vanuatu football, inspiring many young talents back home to follow in his footsteps.

With Valentine FC currently sitting 5th in the NPL NSW table and King having already scored a goal, his star is indeed on the rise. The local community in Vanuatu will undoubtedly be watching closely and cheering for Nicolas King as he continues to shine on the international stage.