Debut delight for Petro
Flames defender-cum-midfielder Charles Petro has finally joined his new Romanian top-flight league side FC Botosani and made his debut against table-anchors Mioveni on Friday.
The former Moldova-based player is one of the only two Malawian players in Europe. The other one is left-back Kieran Ngwenya, who plays for Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan from Aberdeen.
In an interview on Saturday, the 21-year-old said he was excited to return to action after almost seven months.
He said: “I have joined my new team after recently acquiring a travel visa.
“It was frustrating to be out of action for a long time and I feel relieved.
“I was accorded a warm welcome here by my new team-mates, the coach and club management. I made it into the first 11 instantly and I will work extra hard to maintain my place.
“We drew one-all in my debut and I felt my performance was satisfactory, considering that I was inactive for a while.”
Botosani are currently 11th in the 16-team league with 32 points from 30 matches as they head into the promotion and relegation phase.
The former FCB Nyasa Bullets centre-back signed a two-year deal with Botosani after the expiry of his contract with Moldovan top league side Sherrif Tiraspol.
Flames coach Mario Marinica, a Romanian, said it is good that Petro has returned to action.
“During the recent friendly match against Lesotho, it was evident that he was struggling for fitness as he had last played competitive football in June,” he said.
The coach also described Botosani as a good side.
“They play in European cups regularly. Financially, they are also stable and always looking to bringing African players and then sell them on,” he said.
Petro secured a deal with Sherrif Tiraspol after his impressive TNM Super League debut season with the People’s Team in 2020.
He also earned his maiden call-up in his debut season with Bullets.
Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa is on record as having said that since the diminutive player’s departure, he has not been able to find a suitable replacement.
During the 2019 season, he was named TNM Super League Defender of the Season.
