The 18-year-old will line-up for the Papua New Guinea side in both the National Soccer League and 2012 O-League campaigns as Hekari look to repeat their feats of 2010, when a ground-breaking win in that season’s O-League saw them book a place at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Hekari president John Kapi Natto was in Noumea last week to take in the action at the Pacific Games, a tournament Kaltak starred in by finishing as Vanuatu’s top scorer with five goals, and announced the signing of the teenager soon after.
He will be one of a batch of new faces in the Port Moresby-based team, the other major signings being Fijian Isoa Simeoni, and Lae Besta United pair Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dubunayaba.
It is the signing of Kaltak that is likely to cause most excitement amongst the Hekari faithful though as he has enjoyed a remarkable run of form and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Oceania football.
He first caught the eye at the OFC U-17 Championship in Auckland in January, scoring five times for Vanuatu as they finished fourth. He and his country both went one better at the OFC U-20 Championship three months later in the same city, Kaltak notching six goals to win the Golden Boot as Vanuatu earned bronze.
His feats at the age-group tournaments were enough for the rangy forward to then to be included in the senior side during the preparations for the Pacific Games.
He impressed enough in the friendly lead-up matches to be included in the squad for the Games, which took place in New Caledonia during August and September, and continued his development in Noumea by being among the top-scorers with a six-goal haul.
Kapi Natto says most of last season’s Hekari squad has been retained but the club will be without the services of the Fijian contingent of Alvin Singh, Tuimasi Manuca and Malakai Tiwa, who will all play for Ba, Fiji’s O-League respresentatives.
But fellow Fijian Pita Bolaitoga, who joined the other three in Fiji’s Pacific Games squad, will return to Hekari and Kapi Natto says he is attempting to recruit more foreign players as he looks to put together a highly-competitive squad.
There will still be a strong Papua New Guinea influence within the team though as Eric Komeng, Wira Wama, Lesly Kalai, Kema Jack, Samuel Kini and Niel Hans are all set to be involved. But, in a big blow to the morale of the squad, inspirational captain David Muta is rumoured to be interested in signing for a new club, with Eastern Star and Gigira Laitepo Central Coast both being mentioned.
Hekari have been drawn in Group B for the 2012 O-League and will face Amicale, Koloale and Auckland City. Their first match is away to Vanuatu club Amicale on October 29.

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