Unhappy homecoming for Prahl

By Chipp Reid

Throughout his tenure at Halmstads BK, Malmö FF coach Tom Prahl had one player he could always count on. Torbjörn Arvidsson was a stalwart of Prahl's Halmstad side - and he also made good sausages.
 
Sausage maker
Arvidsson is one of the last players in the Allsvenskan who still has a job outside football. The 34-year-old, dubbed 'Captain Blood' in 2000 after he was photographed playing despite a nasty gash on his forehead, also makes prins korv, a sausage that is especially popular around Christmas.

'A nice break'
"I only do that for three or four weeks [a year]," Arvidsson said. "When I started playing football 14 years ago, everyone needed a second job. Now, I don't have to do it, but I have been working there for so long, I keep doing it. It's a nice break from football."

Excellent partnership
The relationship between Prahl and Arvidsson helped make Halmstad a force in Swedish football. Prahl won two Swedish championships during his six years at Halmstad with Arvidsson as his captain.

'The soul of that team'
"Torbjörn has always been the soul of that team," Prahl said. "Even if he did not play that much because of injuries, he is extremely important to the team because of his qualities as a person."

Key meeting
The mutual respect extended across the field on Saturday in the final game of the 2002 season. Prahl, in charge of Malmö, returned to Örjans vall for the first time since leaving Halmstad needing a win to potentially claim his third Allsvenskan title. Standing between Prahl and the Lennart Johansson trophy was Arvidsson.

Decisive touch
The midfield player came on as a substitute in the 58th minute and, with his first touch, passed to defender Mattias Thylander who crossed for Sharbel Touma to volley the ball past goalkeeper Mattias Asper for the only goal of the game.

'Second assist'
Defeat ended Malmö's title hopes and gave Touma's old team, Djurgårdens IF, their first Swedish crown in 36 years. "I guess you could say I had the second assist, like in [ice] hockey," Arvidsson said.

Mixed fortunes
For Prahl, the goal was a bitter end to season in which he reversed the fortunes of one of Sweden's biggest clubs. After a near-disastrous 2001 season that saw them barely avoid relegation, Prahl took Malmö agonisingly close to the title.

Strange experience
Prahl had mixed feelings about the game before the opening whistle. "I had to think before I walked around or I would have gone to the wrong dressing room or the wrong bench," he said. "After one or two years it will be like playing any other team, but this time, with all the emotions, it was definitely strange."

'I wish Tom well'
Arvidsson also fought emotions as he took the field against his former coach. "I wish Tom well. We all do," he said. "It wasn't important to beat Tom. We simply wanted to win the game. It is the kind of win that stays with over the winter and we can build on it next year. The way I feel is if anybody is going to win the Allsvenskan, it should be Halmstad. If it isn't Halmstad, then it should be Malmö because of Tom."

Peace offering
Though his former captain helped keep Malmö from winning the title, Prahl said he bears him no malice. In fact, Prahl might just give Arvidsson a call around Christmas time. "He's never brought me any sausage," Prahl said. "But I am quite sure he would."