🇻🇺 Brian Kaltak was a solid presence at the back in the Central Coast Mariners’ treble-winning campaign

Brian Kaltak was a solid presence at the back in the Central Coast Mariners’ treble-winning campaign.

The first-ever professional footballer from Vanuatu has had quite the journey before achieving such successes in his career. After growing up in the small archipelago nation in the South Pacific Ocean, his love of the game took him to clubs in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Fiji before finally getting a trial with the A-League side in 2022 on the back of some strong showings for OFC giants Auckland City FC.

Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during the trial and could not complete it, but he stayed in Australia and soon got another shot at a trial before finally being drafted into the squad on an injury replacement contract. Kaltak certainly made the most of the opportunity, establishing himself as a mainstay in the Mariners’ back line instantly and winning back-to-back A-League titles as well as a continental treble very recently.

The 30-year-old center-back’s physicality and pace make him a naturally strong defender, while his positional sense has improved in the A-League. He also is a very good ball progressor, so he is a great match for the Mariners’ style of play in all respects.

By Neel Shelat