Andrew Solomon Napuat

The Captain of the Vanuatu Under-20 national team, Bong Kalo, from Tanna, has been signaled by Deportivo Leganes in the La Liga, for a ten-day professional trial out, in Spain.

He leaves Port Vila on Monday August 7, 2017.

For the 20-year-old Vanuatu National Under-20 Captain, if proven successful, and wins the hearts of the Deportivo Leganes Club Officials, within the 10 day given trial games period, could mean remaining with the Spanish Club and continuing to play for one of the Spanish La Liga (Club). The arrangements for Bong Kalo, professional trial out games with Deportivo, was negotiated and made possible for Kalo, between Vanuatu Consul General to Hong Kong, Andrew Leong, and Deportivo Officials in Spain.

“This is going to be an intensive trial games that will mean displaying my very best performances, staying fit during those ten days, concentrating on every games, giving everything I have to the end of the trial. I believe in myself, the skills and disciplines I have acquired in international , after the Under-20 World Cup Tournament in Seoul 2017. I promise myself, my families, the Under-20 and all Football clubs and fans, the people and our leaders in Vanuatu that I will simply do my very best. I need both moral and prayer support from you all. I am not doing it for myself nor for pride but to show the world that Vanuatu has many young promising international football players out there,” the humble confident Vanuatu Under-20 Football Captain, Bong Kalo, remarked during an interview with the Daily Sports yesterday afternoon.

If the 10-day professional trial out proves successful, it could mean Kalo would most likely sign a long term contract with one of the Spanish and European Top Football Club that will also crafted in Vanuatu’s football history.

The Vanuatu National Under-20 Squad Captain Bong Kalo, scored the first goal against Mexico during the Under-20 World Cup Tournament in Seoul 2017 that left the Mexico Keeper reeling. The second score in that match came from Ronaldo Wilkins, and the match was televised live and watched by millions of football fans around the world.

“I began my professional football career at the age of 15 and have kept going and will keep going as long as I have football shoes on and standing in national, regional or international football arenas. My profession is football and is part of my life and my family,” he expressed with a smile.

“ When I received news of my 10-day trial games with Deportivo in Spain, and while I was eager to take on the international challenge, I had one most single important need and that is to have a right football shoes- fit and confortable for the oncoming 10-days trials. I needed assistance and the help even came before I hunted around for the perfect football shoes,” he explained.

The help came from Tanna Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Napuat, when the MP met Bong Kalo in Australia when Kalo returned from the Under-20 World Cup Tournament in Seoul, 2017.

“When I met Bong Kalo, I saw in him a young man whose value is in millions of vatu. I saw great potential in this young man and knew also that his football career would take him beyond the shores of Vanuatu. So, I told him that upon return to Vanuatu, I will sponsor football shoes for him, but not knowing that shortly after our meeting in Australia and returning to Vanuatu, Bong Kalo, will be given this chance of a professional football trial-out games with one of this top Spanish Football Clubs, Deportivo. When I learnt of this, I contacted him and offered to sponsor him the shoes of his choice to wear and play in during his 10-day professional trial games in Spain. And here’s the pair of the professional football shoes that Bong Kalo, himself chose, tried and appear to fit well and comfortable,” MP Andrew Napuat said as he presented the new pair of the professional football shoes to Kalo.

“To me, such Ni-Vanuatu football players and other young sports men and women who prove their worth in the world of sports must be given every support by the Vanuatu Government. Sport is a professional employment opportunity that opens to every young Ni-Vanuatu who believes in themselves but need Government support. It is just like Ni-Vanuatu citizens going on RSE Schemes in New Zealand or Australia, if you look at it from this perspective,” MP Andrew Napuat pointed out.

MP Napuat said: “Finally, Government and all other leaders must appreciate all talents possessed by the vast number of Ni-Vanuatu young sports men and women and in this case, it happens to be football,” said MP Andrew Napuat, who is also a Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Provincial Affairs in the Ministry that the Labour Department and Employment come under.

In his final remarks before his departure for Spain, the Vanuatu young Football star, Bong Kalo, remarked: “I am going to Spain for a 10-day professional football trial game, not only for myself but for my country, our national flag, our Motto and our peoples,” the young 20-year-old football star expressed to the Daily Post. He will be accompanied by Moise Poida, who is the Vanuatu National Head Coach as well as the Tafea Football Club Coach.

source:Vanuatu daily post