Kalama making best
of career in Tahiti

---

By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin

Walea Kalama was a Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club player competing in a mainland tournament when the team attended the 1994 World Cup match between the United State and Columbia in the Rose Bowl.

That experience planted the idea in Kalama's mind that a professional soccer career was something worth pursuing.

The following year he was captain of the Kamehameha team that finished second in the state tournament. He was named Interscholastic League Player of the Year and Hawaii High School Athletic Association Player of the Year. He went on to play for Hawaii Pacific University, but felt his dream was fading and his potential diminishing.

A trip to Tahiti last summer by Vaiete Hawaii, Kalama's club team, was the first in a series of events that concluded with Kalama and HPU teammate Iovo Stefanov signing professional contracts recently with A.S. Pirae, the top team in Tahiti's Premier Division.

"I was introduced to the league in Tahiti and it opened my eyes to the opportunity of playing at a higher level," Kalama said.

Roger Mou, Vaiete Hawaii coach, and Henri Terorotua of A.S. Pirae, had been working on a program they hoped would open the door for Hawaii players to train in Tahiti and bring the experience and knowledge back to the 50th state.

Kalama and Stefanov were selected to train with A.S. Pirae for a month last August. At the end of the month, Pirae officials ask the two to return for the league season this year.

Kalama is the first American to sign a pro contract in Tahiti and the first American to score a goal in the Premier Division.

"It happened Jan. 17 in my first game playing for the team. Unfortunately it wasn't a severely needed goal, as we won the game 6-0," Kalama said.

He has adjusted to being away from home, in part because he had spent summers in California with the family of his mother, Laura Lamb. He makes great use of e-mail due to the cost of telephone calls between Hawaii and Tahiti, and he deals with the language difference. Kalama also is playing for a team that uses a system different from what's normally found in Hawaii, where the 4-4-2 is popular.

"Here, they play a 3-5-2 with three central midfielders, one offensive midfielder and two defensive midfielders. I play as one of the defensive midfielders. I enjoy it because it fits the way I think about the game. Like a game of chess," Kalama said.

Stefanov is one of the stoppers, assigned to mark one of the two opposing strikers.

Kalama's contract is for one year, but he hopes being immersed in the sport will lead to more opportunities.

"I came to Tahiti to ive soccer, and see if I have the ability to rise to a higher level of play, given the right atmosphere," Kalama said. "In Hawaii, there are so many sports that soccer gets dwarfed by those, like basketball and American football.

"Plus, with other things going on in your life most of the time, soccer gets put to the side. Here in Tahiti, soccer is very popular and only has to compete with paddling, which is the other very popular sport.

"So included in trying to raise my level of play, I would like to see if I have the ability to reach the professional leagues in Europe or maybe the MLS. I know that's a long shot, but by playing here, I am one step closer."

Kalama developed a love for the sport early. His mother was Hawaii Youth Soccer Association president for a number of years. He and his sister, former Hawaii Rainbow Wahine defender Camille Kalama, spent their weekends at Kapiolani Park or Waialea Iki Field.

He began to understand tactics when he played for Bulls coach David Chattergy. Chris Neid, his coach at Kamehameha, taught Kalama discipline and how to focus on one game at a time. Neid also instilled in Kalama's thought process the importance of rigorous training.

"With Roger Mou, my soccer skills were not a factor. It was the opportunities and respect that I experienced," Kalama said. "I guess Iovo and I are sort of the guinea pigs. If things go well for us and we make an impact here, then other Tahitian teams will look to Hawaii for new players."

His contract covers Kalama's rent and travel expenses, and the team provided him with a job in computer information with a big construction company that also is one of A.S. Pirae's biggest sponsors.

"Anything involving the team, as far as training and games, comes first, and our boss at work knows that," Kalama said.

"So far life has been great and the thought of being able to just concentrate on soccer has given me a great attitude toward my life right now. I know this life is temporary, but I am going to enjoy every minute of it."