Brian Kaltak: I had the best season of my career

The 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season is over as Auckland City was claimed the champions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unexpected end, it was a wonderful season for Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak that was named for the ISPS Handa Premiership Team of the Season for the first time in his career.

The 26-year-old central back has really played an important role in Auckland City by being a very strong defender and helping the team in attack by scoring some important goals in the last matches of the season and he showed his happiness – “I am really happy to help Auckland City to win another title. Hope we can do the same in the OFC Champions League […] We have a good team spirit, that is why we keep the winning mentality going,” pointed Kaltak.

Auckland City has only allowed fifteen goals in sixteen matches throughout ISPS Handa Premiership season, the best defensive record in the league alongside with Team Wellington. The solid defensive system built by José Figueira gets even stronger when the Ni-Vanuatu defender is in the pitch – “He is a fantastic coach. He knows how to prepare us tactically and mentally very well,” said Brian – “The club has a good environment and I like it. They are so professional,” he added.

It was Kaltak’s second season in the Navy Blues and it he keeps improving his game. At 26, Kaltak is one of the best defenders in Oceania – “I would say it was my best season. I kept the positive attitude and worked hard on and off the pitch,” he explained. However he still has many years to show his quality. He is in a high level but it is not his career’s peak yet.

Despite living in New Zealand, he always keeps an eye on Vanuatu’s football and congratulated Galaxy and Malampa Revivors for the good campaigns in the 2020 OFC Champions League – “Both teams are doing good. I would like to wish them both all the best for the remaining matches,” he said. It is the first time ever that there are two teams from Vanuatu in the OFC Champions League quarter finals.

Anyway he knows the importance of staying focused to win the main club football competition in Oceania when the football activities return to normality – “Winning the Champions League is my dream. I know we will do this,” pointed the 26-year-old defender that helped Lautoka to reach the continental final in 2018 when the Fijian side lost to Team Wellington in the final.

Everything is unclear at this moment in the world due to COVID-19 pandemic as many important events are being cancelled or postponed just like the Euro 2020 that was postponed to 2021. The OFC Nations Cup is scheduled to take place in June but it can be rescheduled.

Vanuatu National Team has been improving in the last years and Kaltak is a key player in this process. Current National Team’s captain, he showed his concerns about the COVID-19 but he shows confidence for his next challenge in football with his country – “I am looking forward for the Nations CupWe need to be strong. I hope we will have a good team this year […] with a good preparation we can do good things,” he stated.

He also pointed the importance of being confident and left a message for Ni-Vanuatu footballers – “It does not matter who you are. Your mindset says who you really are […] Keep being yourselves and work hard on and off the pitch. Stay positive all the time and be professional on whatever you do.”