Dan Hall and Brian Kaltak hoping to inspire new wave of Pacific Island A-League stars

When Pacific Islander duo Dan Hall and Brian Kaltak step out in the A-League grand final, they’ll be giving hope to a new generation of talent from the region.

Central Coast Mariners' Fijian defender Dan Hall (L) and Ni-Vanuatu defender Brian Kaltak pose with their medals after winning the AFC Cup final football match between Lebanon's Al-Ahed and Australia's Central Coast Mariners at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat on May 5, 2024. (Photo by Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI / AFP)

They have vastly different links to the Pacific Islands, but Melanesian Mariners Dan Hall and Brian Kaltak are proud to be creating a legacy that could inspire a new generation of A-League stars.

Vanuatu born-and-bred Kaltak, who now captains his country, has formed the league’s most formidable defensive partnership with Hall, whose birth mother is from Fiji.

Much of the Central Coast’s hopes of securing back-to-back premierships in Saturday’s grand final against Melbourne Victory will rest with this pair.

“It’s not something you see every day, two Melanesian boys playing next to each other professionally,” Hall said.

“It’s something we’re both proud of, Brian especially being a captain of Vanuatu and being an idol to so many from the islands. Playing next to Brian is great, he is top bloke, an even better bloke off the pitch.”

Kaltak added: “I’m really proud of Dan because he’s stepped up this season and is playing his best football, the combination between us is unbelievable.

Fijian defender Dan Hall and Ni-Vanuatu defender Brian Kaltak Picture: AFP

“A couple of months ago Stormy (fellow defender Storm Roux) said to me, when you look around the A-League, the best defenders are the two island boys.

“I laughed, you never see that.

“I am so proud that we’re doing what we love and we’re killing it, the one thing for me is it shows how much potential we have. If only it was easier for players to come to A-League clubs as young boys, I think there will be heaps and heaps in the future.

“I just want to give hope to young Pacific Islanders, and not just them, any kids that are dreaming to get here, it’s not too late.

“But I am so proud because you never see Pacific Islanders in any other league.

“What we’re doing here, with the success, when I go back to Vanuatu it’s different, everyone is looking up to me and I feel like it’s my responsibility, I want to show them the pathways and what it takes to get to the top leagues.”

Brian Kaltak with the Ni-Vanuatu fans who gave him a special gift after Central Coast reached the A-League grand final. Picture: Facebook

The Islands are famous for producing rugby league and union superstars, but footballing heroes have been much tougher to find.

Fiji captain Roy Krishna is perhaps the best known island star, winning the A-League’s Johnny Warren medal for best player with the Wellington Phoenix in 2018-19.

Before him there was Mitch Cooper from Vanuatu, Brad McDonald from Papua New Guinea, and Henry Fa’aorodo and Benjamin Totori from the Solomon Islands.

Now Kaltak and Hall are flying the flag for the Pacific.

But their backstories are hardly alike.

Many have mistakenly believed 24-year-old Hall was born in Fiji.

In fact, he was born in Melbourne, and then spent formative years in China, where he first discovered the sport he now plays professionally. Hall and his family lived in the city of Xi’an, home of the terracotta army warriors, for more than three years.

“My birth mum is from Suva, but I was born in Melbourne,” Hall said.

“I was adopted when I was about six months old, I grew up with white parents.

Hall had an intriguing upbringing. Picture: Getty Images

“Then for my dad’s work we moved to China, so my first footballing memory was playing in China because that’s what all the other expats played. I just stuck with it all the way through.

“Dad worked with electrical transformers and managed a factory in China so we just followed him for work.

“That’s how I stumbled into football. Dad played a little bit of basketball in Melbourne before we moved, and I was into that, but when we went to China football was what everyone was playing so that’s what I started to play.

“After living in China for three-and-a-half years we moved back, to Brisbane, and I joined the local club and stuck with it.”

Hall has barely any contact with his birth mother and while he has previously declared his eligibility for Fiji, it is not front of his mind.

“It’s a tricky one, when I play I’m so focused on playing well for the club,” Hall said.

Can the Mariners win on Saturday? Picture: Getty Images

“Playing for Fiji is not something I’ve shut the door on, but I’ve just been so focused on the Mariners and playing my best football, so it’s not something I’ve made my primary focus.

“If people take my story as inspiration I’m delighted, but I’m just trying to make my family proud.”

Kaltak, 30, was born in Erakor, Vanuatu, and his village will gather to watch the game.

“My village will put a big projector screen outside and the community will watch, they’re preparing it for the whole week,” Kaltak said.

“Last time they also watched it in the national stadium so this year I think they’re doing it again.”

Brian Kaltak is a fan favourite. Picture: Getty Images

The Mariners are defending champions, while Victory haven’t been in the big dance since winning the 2017-18 grand final.

Central Coast lost their opening four games; 3-0 to Adelaide, 2-1 to Macarthur, 2-0 to Perth and 2-1 to Brisbane Roar.

Western Pride general manager Pat Boyle congratulates Dan Hall on being recruited by the Central Coast Mariners.

Lodged at the bottom of the table, few could have envisioned such a dramatic turnaround, to the point they claimed the minor premiership two points ahead of Wellington Phoenix and a whopping 13 points ahead of third-placed Victory.

“When we lost the first four games of the season, we all had a talk and we came up with a plan, when we talked about defence it wasn’t just about the back four,” Kaltak said.

“From then, we fixed what we wanted and you saw a lot of clean sheets and saving goals, it was more a team effort.”

Hall moved from Brisbane to Central Coast to join their academy team in 2018, and feels a deep connection to the team and the area.

“I’ve now been based on the Coast for six years, since May 2018, I love it here,” Hall said.

“The Coast will always hold a special place in my heart, my professional football journey started here and I’m not sure what my story would look like if I didn’t get that trial, I was lucky enough to be selected in the academy.

“Some of these boys I’ve been playing with for the full six years, it’s a tight group. To do something so special with some of your best mates, I don’t take it for granted.”

Originally published as Dan Hall and Brian Kaltak hoping to inspire new wave of Pacific Island A-League stars