After guiding Medeama SC to win the 2015 MTN FA Cup and the FA Super Cup last Sunday, Tom Marcus Christian Strand has set an audacious target to win the 2015/2016 Premier League title, as well as make a remarkable impact in Africa as his team gears up for the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Swedish tactician, who admitted he was spoilt for choice choosing among the number of top performing players at his disposal, told the Graphic Sports that his side was well prepared to annex the title no matter the direction the league would take.
“We are prepared for the league and even for Africa. For the league, we can win it if it is handled fairly in the interest of Ghana football but not for some other subjects. We have done our homework well so with a little luck we can win it,” he said confidently.
With his current deal with Medeama set to run out at the end of the season, Strand hopes to make a big statement with another major trophy but as he is undecided on his next destination at the end of the season, despite admitting there is pressure from his family to return home.
“This is my last year at Medeama but I don’t know what the future holds. I have my family back in Sweden so I would love to go home and continue my job in Europe,” he stated.
The 32-year-old Swede’s stock has risen after leading the ‘Mauve and Yellow’ team to their second FA Cup triump with a 2-1 win over Kumasi Asante Kotoko last August and was subsequently linked with a move to giants, Accra Hearts of Oak.
Strand believes his relative success in Ghana is linked to what he terms “constructive football”, a new approach to the game and player development he introduced which allows players to adapt mentally and become productive at home and abroad, particularly as he plans to develop his players in readiness for European football.
By: Beatrice Laryea, Graphic