Italian-born Ghanaian defender Mark Kwarteng has completed his move to Swedish lower-tier side Grebbstand IF.
The player born in Italy over the last few years has played his football in the Italian lower leagues.
On the back of interest shown by Grebbstand IF and fruitful negotiations in the past week, the centre-back has sealed a move to join the Swedish club.
Below is Kwarteng’s maiden Q&A interview with the club’s media:
Hi Mark, how are you?
– It’s very good thank you.
You have signed and are now ready for Grebbestads IF, how does it feel?
– It feels very good and I like everything here so far
Tell us who Mark Kwarteng is? Family, age, etc.
– I’m Mark Kwarteng. I am 21 years old, I have a brother and a sister and I was born in Italy.
Born in Italy but Ghana as a homeland
– Yes, that’s right. My parents are from Ghana but then moved to Italy.
Tell us who Mark Kwarteng is? Family, age, etc.
– I
Today you did your first training with Grebbestad, how did it feel?
– It felt good and I like the team and the players so it just felt good.
Is your physical shape good?
– Yes it is and I played a match as late as last Sunday in Italy so there is nothing wrong with physics.
How come you come to Sweden to play football?
– I want to gain a new experience and develop.
What do you know about Sweden?
– Nothing 😊 It’s my first time in Sweden but so far I like it.
You have played for a number of years in Italy before you now come to Grebbestad, how has it been?
– It has been good. I have played in several teams and now want to come here to get more experience.
Tell us what kind of player you are?
– I
You have played in Ghana’s U20 national team. How many matches have you played there?
– We played the African Championships, qualifiers, but we did not make it to the finals. I have played 5 matches with the team.
What type of player are you and what are your strengths?
– I am a technical player and aggressive. I play center back. I’m good with long passes. Active with teammates and aggressive.
Have you set any personal goals for yourself in 2022
– I want to play all the matches and help the team win all the matches. That we are fighting at the top of the series.
Thank you very much for the conversation and we wish you good luck in the future in Grebbestads IF
– Thank you very much!
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A little word from Jonas Björk about Mark Kwarteg
Hi Jonas, Another new acquisition with Mark Kwarteng
– True, a guy I got tips from a good friend. We have talked a bit back and forth and now it is clear and he has signed for us so it feels good.
A guy from Ghana, tell me how it comes about that he ends up in Grebbestads IF? We talked a few days ago and then you told us a little more about this
– Yes, when I coached another club a few years ago, Stenungsunds IF, I had a forward named Ebo who is from Italy, Brescia. We have kept in touch after that and this summer I received a request from him if we were in need of a midfielder. He had a teammate who was interested in testing in Europe. So that’s the way it really is. We have kept in touch back and forth, but it is only now that it became relevant to do something about it.
What do you really know about him?
– No more than what I got from Ebo. I’ve talked to Mark a few times on the phone and then some movies. He has good grades and has, among other things, represented Ghana’s U19 national team and now he is 21 years old. He was very good in his younger years in Italy and has played at a high level there so it will be exciting to see.
The squad is starting to behave, are you happy with the situation there right now?
– Yes, it feels good. In mid-February, most things will probably have settled down. Then there are some places left and we have an ongoing process all the time and we have another name that we talk to. So it will probably happen soon. Plus we still have some of last year’s guys who have not yet signed, I hope to sign them soon.
