Kalo In for Blues
Lautoka Football Association’s Vanuatu signing Bong Kalo flew into the country on Saturday to boost the team’s preparations for next month’s OFC Champions League.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder was signed from Vanuatu’s Tafea FC and will also feature for the Sugar City team in the Vodafone Premier League.
Kalo said he was excited to have joined Lautoka, which he said was a team held in high regard in Vanuatu.
“My aim is to come here and do my best to help Lautoka secure the OFC title,” he said.
“I’m also excited to play alongside players like Benjamin Totori, Dave Radrigai and Zibraaz Sahib.
“I have heard so much about the Lautoka side and watched them play in the O League and admire their style of play.”
Kalo has an impressive international goalscoring record and was prolific for Vanuatu at the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
He scored two goals for his nation in a 3-2 loss against Germany and another against Mexico in a 3-2 loss.
The midfielder is known for his pace and incisive passing ability and will add depth to an already strong Lautoka squad.
Lautoka FA president Abdul Kadar said he was happy to have the services of a player like Kalo, while hinting at more new signings before the window closes on January 31.
“We have a few more players that are coming in to join the Lautoka side,” he said. Kadar said the Kalo signing was not to undermine the local talent in Lautoka but to strengthen the squad for the O-League which was “a different level of football altogether.”