THE accumulation of four yellow cards and one red card over the course of a season would not normally be cause for either concern or celebration among most professional footballers.
For Dimitre Kalkanov, however, this modest collection of offences represents a satisfying personal triumph. It is not difficult to see why.
In three years of playing in Hong Kong, first for Rangers and now with Instant-Dict, the languid Bulgarian sweeper contrived to eke out a reputation for volatility and foul play that would make even Vinnie Jones cringe.
Kalkanov's disciplinary record was, to put it bluntly, appalling. Prior to this season, he had received his marching orders four times per season on average and received countless bookings during three turbulent seasons in Hong Kong. Gary Lineker he was not.
'I was like a volcano, just erupting all the time . . . I don't know why,' reflects the softly spoken man from the Balkans.
Rock-bottom for Kalkanov came in last year's FA Cup final, when he was once again sent off, this time for elbowing an opponent. 'Stupid. Just plain stupid,' was the verdict of Instant's then-manager Billy Kirkwood. 'The boy has let himself and the whole club down. He has got to change.' Kirkwood's words did not go unheeded. Change Kalkanov most certainly has. A rough diamond for so long, Kalkanov has this season sparkled for Instant like a gem of the most smoothly polished variety, playing a key part in his team's Ericsson League success.
