Tom Strand Explained

Tom Strand
Fullname:Tom Marcus Christian Strand
Birth Date:1982
Manageryears1:–2014
Managerclubs1:Golden Boot Academy (chairman)
Manageryears2:2014
Manageryears3:2015–2016
Manageryears4:2017–

Tom Strand is a professional football coach from Sweden who is contracted to Great Olympics in Ghana as of 2017.

Career

Bechem United

Signing a two-year contract to lead Bechem United in 2014,[1] he was praised by the team CEO as perfect for the club due to his ‘training methods’ and ‘tactical ingenuity’ just a month after his arrival.[2] During his time with the club, he stated that the ‘old’ officials presiding over the league matches as referees were culpable of bad calls and deliberately aggravating players.[3] Following his departure from the club, he had relished for another spell at Bechem despite the fact he was already at Medeama SC by then.[4]

Medeama and resignation crisis

In 2015, the Swede was announced as head coach of Medeama SC of the Ghanaian Premier League.[5] The Ghanaian media spread rumors that Strand was going to sign for Hearts of Oak (while he was still with Medeama) which never happened even though they had sent a letter to Medeama regarding a possible appointment of him as their coach.[6] But, in 2016, he decided abscond from his hotel in South Africa without notifying anyone one night, leaving a note explaining his resignation. Before that, the trainer had also missed multiple training sessions and two league games and technical director Augustine Evans Adotey supervised the squad in his place.[7] It happened a day after his team lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs.[8] At once, he was reported to the South African police for his surreptitious behavior.[9] By 10 May Strand had already returned to Sweden.[10] Months later, he issued an apology for suddenly leaving the club in such an unscrupulous manner,[11] [12] [13] citing familial financial problems as the reason for his exit.[14] Still, he thought about a possible return to coach Medeama but the deal never happened. Medeama now want repayment from him for cancelling his contract before it expired[15] and Interpol have given him a red notice alert.[16]

Great Olympics

Succeeding Godwin Attram as head coach in April 2017,[17] his main task was to lift the newly promoted side from the bottom of the table.[18] [19] This decision to appoint him as manager bewildered the supporters, who threatened to ‘chase him out’.[20] By June 2017, Strand has expressed apprehension over the club being relegated.[21] One of his main ambitions is to lead the Ghana national team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Strand signs two-year contract as Bechem coach. Africanfootball.com. 15 December 2021.
  2. http://ghanasportsonline.com/index.php/local-football-news/item/1227-bechem-united-ceo-heaps-praises-on-tactical-coach-tom-strands
  3. Web site: Bechem coach Strand slams 'old' Ghana referees. Goal.com. 15 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Exclusive: Tom Strand desires Bechem United U-turn. Ghanaweb.com. 29 December 2014.
  5. Web site: OFFICIAL: Medeama SC appoint Tom Strand as head coach; Annor Walker as deputy. Modernghana.com. 15 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Hearts send official letter to Medeama over Tom Strand. Ghanaweb.com. 15 October 2015.
  7. Web site: The story of a coach gone AWOL at Medeama SC. Pulse.com.gh. 2 May 2016.
  8. Web site: Tom Strand goes AWOL, leaves quit note in Medeama team hotel room - Kessben FM . https://web.archive.org/web/20170817050138/https://kessbenfm.com/tom-strand-goes-awol-leaves-quit-note-medeama-team-hotel-room/ . 2021-12-15 . 2017-08-17 .
  9. Web site: Tom Strand goes walkabout in South Africa, reported to police - 2016 CAF Confederation Cup - Medeama Sc. Africanfootball.com. 15 December 2021.
  10. Web site: Tom Strand arrives in Sweden after unceremonious exit from Medeama. Ritefmonline.org. 10 May 2016.
  11. Web site: Tom Strands Renders Apologies to Medeama Sc. Ghanamansports.com. March 2017.
  12. Web site: Tom Strand apologize for untimely exit from Medeama . GhHeadlines.com.
  13. Web site: Tom Strand Renders Apology to MedeamaSportsCrusader.com - Ghana Sports & Football News and Updates and around the World | SportsCrusader.com - Ghana Sports & Football News and Updates and around the World . 2017-08-16 . 2017-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303124150/http://www.sportscrusader.com/tom-strand-renders-apology-to-medeama/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Why I left Medeama hotel in South Africa - Tom Strand opens up. Ghanaweb.com. 24 February 2017.
  15. Web site: Medeama seeking compensation from former Coach Tom Strand . 2017-08-16 . 2017-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170625155945/http://ghanasportsonline.com/index.php/local-football-news/item/13609-medeama-seeking-compensation-from-former-coach-tom-strand . dead .
  16. Web site: Interpol issues red notice for Swedish coach Tom Strand. Ghanaweb.com. 20 April 2017.
  17. Web site: Tom Strand takes over from Godwin Attram . Goal.com. 15 December 2021.
  18. Web site: I Will Turn Things Around for Great Olympics – Tom Strand | SportsNetGhana.com . 2017-08-16 . 2017-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170817035106/https://www.sportsnetghana.com/top/i-will-turn-things-around-for-great-olympics-tom-strand/ . dead .
  19. Web site: I'll transform Great Olympics- Tom Strand – Starr Fm . 2017-08-16 . 2017-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170817075951/http://starrfmonline.com/2017/04/12/ill-transform-great-olympics-tom-strand/ . dead .
  20. Web site: Great Olympics supporters vow to chase out incoming coach Tom Strand . GhHeadlines.com.
  21. Web site: "I don't know if we can survive" -Tom Strand . SportsWorldGhana.com. 27 June 2017.
  22. Web site: Ex-Medeama coach Tom Strand wants to lead Ghana in 2022 World Cup. Pulse.com.gh. 23 February 2017.