Wonder if the Nix ever considered taking a game to Fiji when Krishna was a player.
A game(s) in Suva against their National team would actually be useful, over this WC break. Handy acclimatisation with some sweltering Australian kickoffs, no doubt soon to come.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/brian-kaltak-homecoming-is-a-chance-to-inspire-as-central-coast-mariners-head-to-vanuatu/
The tournament gives the Mariners, who have three players in Qatar as part of Graham Arnold’s Australia squad, a chance to keep sharp over the break period with 21 players, including some youngsters who are looking to impress, making the journey.
A game(s) in Suva against their National team would actually be useful, over this WC break. Handy acclimatisation with some sweltering Australian kickoffs, no doubt soon to come.
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/brian-kaltak-homecoming-is-a-chance-to-inspire-as-central-coast-mariners-head-to-vanuatu/
The tournament gives the Mariners, who have three players in Qatar as part of Graham Arnold’s Australia squad, a chance to keep sharp over the break period with 21 players, including some youngsters who are looking to impress, making the journey.
But it is also a chance to bring Kaltak back to his homeland and perhaps inspire the next generation.
“With Brian at the Mariners it was an opportunity to bring the team here, bring Brian back and the fans can obviously celebrate Brian,” said Montgomery.
“Brian’s journey is a special one. I find it hard to believe that nobody picked him up from his time in New Zealand as he is an unbelievable athlete, and he learns so quickly. I think everyone has seen in the early rounds of the A-League that he is a big talent.
“I am just humbled that I have been the one to give him his opportunity in professional football. He is a real pioneer for football in Vanuatu.”
As a footballer from the Pacific playing in the A-League Kaltak is a rarity, with former Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna the other high-profile example. The A-League’s transfer system is set up to protect the development of domestic players, with only five foreign ‘visa players’ allowed to be registered to a club at any one time. It means players from the nearby Pacific Islands have a tough task in getting opportunities to break through into the competition.
Montgomery is pleased Kaltak has managed to make that leap but thinks there is an opportunity for more talented players from the region to play professional football in Australia.
“It would be an amazing thing to have a plus one quota player from Oceania. I know there is talk about Asia as well, but I don’t see why there can’t be one from Oceania when you have places like Fiji and players like Roy Krishna and obviously Brian now from Vanuatu.
“That’s a pathway that would be welcomed. At the moment it is very hard, you only have five Visa spots at every A-League club so to try and give up Visa spots is not easy, but I think Brian can be an inspiration for that as was Roy Krishna.
“Look there are good players out here they just need the platform and opportunity to perform at the highest level and that’s always the challenge.”
But while those opportunities are currently limited, it won’t stop Montgomery and the Mariners staff from keeping their eyes peeled for the next Brian Kaltak during this tour.
“We have got three games which give us an opportunity to look at players,” said Montgormery.