Brian Kaltak: ready for a chance outside Oceania

Vanuatu has always produced very talented players throughout its footballing history; players such as Richard Iwai, Moise Poida and Etienne Mermer have helped Vanuatu achieve various successes in the past – as their win against New Zealand at 2004 OFC Nations Cup. The three former players mentioned above are still active in football today, but in the coaching field. Iwai recently coached Yatel FC, Poida coached various teams in Vanuatu and is currently associated with ABM Galaxy FC, and Etienne Mermer coached Vanuatu’s U23 side in past OFC U23 Olympic qualifiers and is one of the favourites to take on the senior national team still vacant head coach role.

The past generation has now left room for new players to continue carrying the Vanuatu flag in football competitions. The current captain of the national team, Brian Kaltak, is showing the potential of Vanuatu football in Oceania’s most successful club: Auckland City. The central defender has already represented clubs such as Lautoka of Fiji and Hekari United of Papua New Guinea, but his best time is currently spent defending the colours of Auckland City FC in New Zealand.

An Erakor Golden Star grassroots program, Kaltak has plenty of experience at OFC Champions League and recently celebrated the glory of winning the ISPS Handa Premiership in New Zealand, the most important football league of the country. The defender also helped his team to top the Group D of the 2020 OFC Champions League scoring two goals in three matches played and was also selected in the ‘Team of the Season’ of the ISPS Handa Premiership.

After so much success, Kaltak seems ready to follow in the footsteps of another successful islanders in international football, such as Roy Krishna and Micah Lea’alafa, who have played professional football in other confederations; the strong central defender of Vanuatu deserves a chance to demonstrate his skills on a fully professional level.

See More:
Brian Kaltak: I had the best season of my career;
Brian Kaltak ready to make history in Oceania;
The Asian journey of Jason Thomas.

According to reliable sources, the Ni-Vanuatu international received a number of offers from clubs outside Oceania before the start of the 2019/20 season, but for unknown reasons Kaltak decided to stay in New Zealand – something that proves the player has what it takes to advance to the next level of football.

Only time will tell how the still young central defender’s career will unfold, but it is safe to say that the player is among the best in his current position at OFC level and the scouts around the region are already assessing the skills of Vanuatu’s captain.

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