An interview with Callum McFadden’s Salford City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante for WFi.
You’ve been with Salford since 2019 and the club is playing very well in the second division this season. Summarize the season so far from your point of view?
“For me personally, this season was a very good learning experience. I would love to play more games than I am now, but the team plays incredibly well and patience is vital in football.
“I work hard every day in training and I look forward to getting involved in the team when I am challenged.
“My personal highlight so far would be the away game in Oldham. We won 4-1 away and I scored a brace in the game. It was my birthday too, which made it special for me too.
“My parents and family members were at the game and I felt like I was taking control of this game and expressing myself freely about what football is all about.
“I’m a right-footed player and what I enjoyed about this game was the fact that I was able to hit with my left foot.
“Often times I get closed on my right side by opponents, so it is very important that I work on my left foot technique. I’ve already scored a few goals with my left foot, I’m particularly pleased. “
You started your career at MK Dons and were named Academy Player of the Year in 2017. How do you look back on your time there?
“My time at MK Dons was very good. It’s my home club and playing there meant a lot to me and my family. When I was there, I got a real taste of men’s football and also worked with a lot of great people.
“Playing against Everton in front of a huge crowd – which I also played against at Salford – is a big moment for me.
“It was a very good start to my football career for me and I wish the club all the best, but for me it is important to look forward to my football journey.”
You have experience in non-league football in England with loan periods at Sutton United, Oxford City and Ebbsfleet United. What have you learned from your experience in the non-league?
“How to avoid elbows to the face (laughs). Seriously, I learned how to fight and how to earn the right to play.
“In the non-league you don’t get an extra moment on the ball, you get closed early and learn to be efficient on the ball very quickly.
“There is also a lot of quality at the non-league level. It’s physical, but there’s no question that there are technically good players and teams at this level.
“I learned a lot there and am very grateful for the opportunities I had in the non-league. It helps you to appreciate playing in the soccer league and to take on every single challenge even more. “
Finally, what do you hope for in the future?
“Personally, I always strive for the best. I want to develop myself as a footballer and I appreciate my luck to be a professional footballer, because not everyone can do that.
“My goal is to play at the highest level. I want to play in the Premier League one day because when you look at people like Mo Salah and Sadio Manè they inspire you to get there one day too.
“I’m with an ambitious club in Salford and I’m an ambitious player too, so I can never get by at the level I play because I want to be successful every year until, God willing, we get our goal achieve. “Goals.
“You just have to look at our owners, who have all played at the highest level for the club and the country, to see where they want to lead us as a football club.
“Salford is the perfect place and platform for me and I look forward to working hard to do all I can with the football club.”