Latest news with #BrianKaltak
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 24 June
Isoa Nasilasila with fans after the Fijian Drua defeated the Reds in Suva on Saturday. Photo: Fijian Drua Fijian Drua player Isoa Nasilasila has re-signed with the franchise for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific competition. The Nadi-based club said the 25-year-old Nasilasila has been a major part of the club since 2022. The Vuda native has played 50 matches for the Drua and is in the Flying Fijians squad. The Drua have also signed former Crusader, Manasa Mataele. Mataele has also played Super Rugby with the Western Force and the Chiefs. Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika have re-signed fullback William Havili for the 2026 Super Rugb Pacific competition. Havili has been part of the club since its inception in 2022. Moana and Drua both released a number of players at the end of the 2025 Super Rugby season. The Vanuatu table tennis team is still seeking funding to help cover participation fees for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. The Games begin on Sunday, 29 June. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported veteran table tennis champion and gold medalist, Anolyn Lulu, confirming athletes are required to cover part of their participation costs. Vanuatu's international football star, Brian Kaltak, says the Vanuatu Football Federation, government and all stakeholders must work on improving the state of football facilities across the country. Vanuatu Daily Post reported Kaltak is concerned that the current poor pitch conditions are hindering player development and increasing injury risks. Kaltak said that pitch quality plays a crucial role in determining player performance, and injury prevention. He urges stakeholders should view investment in sports infrastructure as a long-term development goal. Twelve players with Pasifika heritage have been named in the Wallabies squad to prepare for matches against Fiji and the touring British Lions next month. Rob Veletini, Filipo Daugunu and Langi Gleeson are the Fijian heritage players in the squad. Head coach Joe Schmidt also named Japan-based Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou, who are of Tongan heritage, in the side, alongside Samoan heritage players Allan Ala'alatoa and Noah Lolesio. The Wallabies face the Flying Fijians in Sydney on 6 July before Australia's first test against the Lions on 19 July. The PNG Hunters rugby league team have dropped out of the top eight in the Queensland Rugby League Hostplus Cup competition following a 36-16 loss to the Brisbane Tigers. The National newspaper reported that having led 16-8 at halftime, the side could not contain a fired-up Tigers side that scored an unanswered 28 points to claim the win. The Tigers now sit in eighth spot with the Hunters ninth. The Hunters play the Blackhawks on 6 July in their next game.
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Kaltak moves to Perth, set to launch football academy
Brian Kaltak in action for his former club, the Central Coast Mariners, in the A-League. Photo: Facebook / Brian Kaltak Football Academy Vanuatu national men's football team captain Brian Kaltak has signed a multi-year deal with Perth Glory, the A-League club has confirmed. The Western Australia based club said the 31-year-old Vanuatu international had enjoyed a remarkable run of success in the A-League since debuting for Central Coast Mariners in 2022. In that time, he helped the Mariners claim the Championship in 2023 and an unprecedented Championship/Premiership/AFC Cup treble in 2024. And as he makes his move to his new club, Kaltak has also announced that he is ready to launch a football academy at home in Vanuatu. The project is set to launch in July, with the Australian government stepping in to partner with Kaltak with funding. Playing at centre-back, Kaltak started all but one of the Mariners' games, taking his total number of appearances past the 80-mark. Statistics for the last season showed he made 21 tackles and completed 37 interceptions. Kaltak hopes he can achieve the same success with Glory. "This a new chapter for me and I'm excited for it," he told Perth Glory. "I was with the Mariners for three years and now it's time to try something new. I think this move will be good for me and good for my football. When I spoke to [Glory Football Director] Stan Lazaridis, he was really passionate about what the club is trying to do. "This club has a huge history of winning titles, Stan is trying to get it back to where it belongs and I want to be a part of that in my new journey. "Creating a good environment and getting a good bunch of boys that gel well together, that's what makes the biggest difference and that is what I want this club to be." Lazaridis believes that Kaltak has the potential to become a huge favourite with the club's Members and fans. "It's impossible not to love the way Brian goes about his business," he said. "He's an incredibly strong and explosive defender who puts his body on the line every time he steps onto the field and is 100% committed to everything he does. "Those qualities, plus his know-how in terms of what it takes to win the A-League, will make him an invaluable member of our squad and an ideal mentor for our younger defenders in particular. "Securing Brian's services is a genuine coup for the club and I'm really excited to see the impact he will make on and off the field for us this year and beyond." Brian Kaltak, left, during a meeting with Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila discussinghis project to develop football and sports in general in the country. 13 June 2025 Photo: Facebook / Ministry of the Prime Minister - Vanuatu Meanwhile, Kaltak has secured support from the Australian government to help launch his youth football academy. Vanuatu Daily Post reported this week that the sponsorship was announced by the Australian High Commissioner, Max Willis, during a ceremony in Port Vila. "We are really excited about partnering with Brian on his academy," Willis said. "Sport plays such an important role in bringing people together, promoting healthy practices, and building strong community bonds." Kaltak said he was delighted with the support for the academy, which will offer free programs for Vanuatu's young players. "I'm sure that what we have can help mentor our next superstars of Vanuatu in the future," he said. Kaltak said the academy hopes to cater for young people who are faced with limited access to structured football programs. He hopes this initiative will create a strong pipeline of talent capable of reaching international standards.
News.com.au
06-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Andrew Redmayne's deal to return to Central Coast Mariners now uncertain
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne's hopes of rejoining Central Coast Mariners are in jeopardy after an apparent about-face from club owner and chairman Mike Charlesworth. It was announced in April that veteran gloveman Redmayne was parting ways with Sydney FC at the end of the 2024-25 A-League season after eight years with the Sky Blues, having lost his first-team place to Harrison Devenish-Meares. It's understood that soon after the announcement, 36-year-old Redmayne signed a contract with the Mariners, the club where he started his A-League career as a teenager in 2008. Sources close to the cash-strapped Mariners say that Charlesworth approved the deal. However, it now believed that as part of the club's current freeze on signing players, Charlesworth has back-tracked on bringing Redmayne back to Gosford, potentially leaving the experienced gloveman in limbo. A potential lifeline looms for Redmayne if English Championship club Queens Park Rangers commit to buying the Mariners. A decision is expected soon from QPR, although it's understood there is also a consortium of Australian businessmen interested in purchasing a stake in the Mariners on the proviso that Charlesworth retains 40 per cent of the club ownership. Meanwhile, star defender Brian Kaltak, whose departure from the Mariners was confirmed on Thursday, has joined Perth Glory on a multi-year deal. The 31-year-old Vanuatu international, who won two A-League championships and an AFC Cup during his three seasons with Central Coast, said it was 'time to try something new'. 'This a new chapter for me and I'm excited for it,' Kaltak said. 'This move will be good for me and good for my football.' In other A-League news, Macarthur FC has announced the departure of four players – left-back Ivan Vujica, right-back Yianni Nicolaou, and midfielders Danny De Silva and Peter Makrillos.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
NZ's Christchurch United partners with Vanuatu Football Federation in a move that could enhance the chances of both to be admitted to the OFC Pro League
The road to professional soccer in the Pacific has seen the Vanuatu Football Federation join forces with New Zealand club, Christchurch United. The formal partnership has been established on the back of discussions with VFF officials, national captain Brian Kaltak, and former national coach, Juliano Schmeling. Those talks began after the earthquake in Port Vila six months ago, when the New Zealand club stepped in and offered to assist in getting football in the capital back on its feet. The hope is the new partnership will boost the bids by both the VFF and Christchurch to secure a place in the OFC Pro League when it kicks off next year, but United's General Manager, Ryan Edwards says the immediate focus is on player and coach development.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 23 April
Brian Kaltak, left, in Vanuatu colours. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Vanuatu football captain Brian Kaltak could be set to leave Central Coast Mariners FC. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported Mariners coach Mark Jason revealed the news after the Mariners' 2-2 draw against Macarthur on Easter Sunday. Jason said Kaltak, who played his 100th game for the club on Sunday, is heading to Asia. He said the club wants to keep him but "he's set on moving overseas-and we respect that". Kaltak has become a fan favourite in Gosford, helping guide the side to a championship title in 2023 and playing a major role in their treble-title-winning campaign last year. A number of players with Pasifika heritage have been named in the Wallaroos squad for their 2025 commitments, including a test against the Fijiana Drua women on 3 May. The list includes Brumbies forward Tabua Tuinakauvandra who debuted for the Wallaroos against Fiji in 2023. Other players in the squad include Waratahs' Faliki Pohiva, who is of Tongan descent, and Brumbies player Katalina Amosa who has Samoan heritage. The Wallaroos will also compete in the Pacific Four series, with home matches against New Zealand, USA and Canada. Tonga Rugby League reportedly wants to host a Pacific Cup clash in Nuku'alofa from this year. 1News reported Tonga league coach Kristian Woolf is backing the plan. RNZ Pacific has reached out to Tonga League board chairman, Lord Fakafanua, for confirmation. Tonga will play the Pacific Cup series in October and November this year against Samoa and New Zealand. Samoa national sports association president, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, says they have not confirmed their Pacific Mini Games team yet. The Samoa Observer reported Tuaopepe saying the association is still working on securing funding before confirming their team, saying taking a team to Palau "is very expensive". Tuaopepe confirmed their selection criteria for athletes is "winning gold medals from past Pacific Games and Oceania Championships", saying their aim is to achieve "nothing less than gold medals". The Pacific Mini Games will roll off in Koror, Palau on 29 June. The Apia Park complex in the Samoan capital is set to undergo a major facelift. Samoa's Ministry of Sports and Recreation has confirmed that, effective immediately, the three grandstands located on the Western side of the Grand Stadium at Apia Park, will be closed off. The grandstands will be demolished, making way for the construction of a new and improved sports stadium. The plan of action has been approved by the Samoan Cabinet, following recommendations provided by the Chinese team, who are overseeing the maintenance and upgrade of the Apia Park complex.
