Brian Kaltak: “I will get back stronger”

One of the most important players of the Central Coast Mariners will be sidelined for a few games; the defender Brian Kaltak  will not be donning the colours of the Gosford-side in the next two matches. The 29-year-old player saw his third red of the A-League season, and as per confirmed by his club, the player got minimal suspension – which means, according to the A-League regulations, two-match ban.

Unfortunately for the former Auckland City man, he is the only played to be sent-off three times so far in the 2022/23 of the men’s A-League. But the player has the full support from his supporters; the “Brick Wall of Gosford” has been doing great in the pitch despite the red cards – that, for sure, where at least very questionable. “Honestly I do not know why I was sent off“, said Kaltak to Oceania Football Center after his last match against Wellington Phoenix.

“I got the ball first, it slided over the ball then I touched his (David Ball’s) shin“, said the Vanuatu international. After the match, even Central Coast Mariners’ legend Matt Simon that Brian’s foul was “clearly not a red” and urged the VAR to interfere in such situations. This was the second questionable red Kaltak got in very little space of time – he was also sent off against Sydney FC in a very controversial manner.

Kaltak, that in his first full professional season in Australia, will definitely need to adapt to the referee’s criteria in his new league. The calls have been criticised by the fans, but the men in the middle don’t seem to be changing their understanding of the game: “I will keep going, I will have to be better next time and I will come back stronger” said Brian Kaltak.

It’s all about experience – the Vanuatu international is a journeyman throught the South Pacific having played in Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea previously before moving to a more challenging New Zealand league. As said by Kaltak, he is going to come back stronger as he is taking one step at a time vying his return to competitive football – better than ever before.