Hero at Anniversary Speed
By Håvard Lindheim, 13 April 2004, 09:29
The opening match of the Tippeligaen was Roar Strand's 300th elite league game. The turbo runner marked his anniversary by winning the game for Rosenborg.
SUPERSUB: A Roar Strand, with no match training, settled the opening match against Brann. Here shown receiving congratulations from his team mates.
Photo: Thomas Myren
During the period 1989-2004, Strand has played 278 games with the RBK logo on the shirt, and 22 in the blue Molde shirt when he was lent out during the 93-season. But what do you know, the hero was not aware of the jubilee!
"No, actually I wasn't aware of that," Roar Strand says to Trondheim newspaper Adressa.
The running midfielder has been injured more or less all winter, and preceding yesterday's visit on the pitch, 23 minutes in a friendly against Groningen in January was the full extent of his match training during 2004. In other words, a rather thin background, but how he impressed when he substituted Fredrik Winsnes after 69 minutes!
In the 82nd minute, Roar Strand came in one of his caracteristical runs, and could with ease score the settling goal at nearest goal post on a great pass from Jan Gunnar Solli.
"I noted that Solli got a somewhat far ball over at the corner flag, and I figured that he wouldn't manage a long pass and hence it would be important to be at the nearest post. And, luckily, I hit the ball. Or rather - luckily, Jan Gunnar hit me," Strand explains.
Wednesday, RBK coach Ola By Rise told rbkweb.com that the often-injured Strand is not guaranteed a new contract (the current ending this season). This is still the fact. Still, the match against Brann showed that the 34-year old still can contribute.
"He must have a lot of injuries if he shall not have his contract renewed for another year. We strongly desire that Roar is with the team for several years. If someone deserves it, it's him," RBK Director of Sports Issues Rune Bratseth says to Norwegian daily VG.
PS! Roar Strand occupies a 6th spot in the ranking of players with most matches. Ola By Rise tops the list with 346 games, but the trio Charles Berstad (303), Torgeir Bjarmann (306) and Tom Gulbrandsen (307) are within range for Strand.
