Tom Strand, the coach of Ghana’s Caf Confederation Cup campaigners Medeama SC has resigned from the club after going AWOL.
The Swedish trainer checked out of the team’s Holiday Inn Express Hotel base without notice 24 hours after the Mauve and Yellows lost 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Confederation Cup play-offs first leg clash in Pretoria.
Strand, 33, has since the beginning of the season had several feuds at the club with him going off the technical area on a number of times. He returned from one of such breaks just last week to lead the team to face Sundowns in South Africa.
“Medeama would like to announce our coach Tom Strand has gone AWOL in South Africa after the team’s defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Confederation Cup play-off tie,” part of a statement released by the club read.
According to the statement, “A resignation note has been found in his room after he checked out of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel without our consent.
“A report has been lodged with the South African Police who have assured us of acting swiftly to know his whereabouts.
The two-time Ghana FA Cup champions took the lead as early as the first minute against the Brazilians last Saturday but sat back and conceded three goals in the final nine minutes of the game – a defeat the Swede took responsibility for as a result of his technical decisions during the game.
Below is the official statement from Medeama SC:
Medeama would like to announce our coach Tom Strand has gone AWOL in South Africa after the team’s defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Confederation Cup play-off tie.
A resignation note has been found in his room after he checked out of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel without our consent.
A report has been lodged with the South African Police who have assured us of acting swiftly to know his whereabouts.
Accordingly, the Ghana High Commission in South Africa has also been duly notified of the current situation.
The club is in constant touch and cooperating fully with authorities to unravel the mystery surrounding his whereabouts.
We would like to assure to our teeming fans and Ghanaians to remain calm in these trying times.