Regional league team 1. FC Bocholt is causing a sensation. One of the main guarantors of success is striker Malek Fakhro.

After ten match days, 1. FC Bocholt is level on points with leaders Fortuna Köln in the Regionalliga West and ranks third in the table. Only the weaker goal difference compared to Fortuna and 1. FC Düren currently prevents FCB from being enthroned at the top of the table. Who would have expected that before the season? Probably no one.

Even for striker Malek Fakhro, this strong start to the season comes as something of a surprise. “We are extremely happy with the start of the season. I’m also honest that I would not have thought it possible in this form, although I saw the quality of the squad early on – especially after the 17 new additions. But of course I didn’t expect to finish in this position. We’re now firmly established up there, which is of course outstanding. We can continue like this,” explains the 25-year-old in the forecasting interview.

Despite the great start, Fakhro urges modesty and does not want to deviate from the original goal. The Essen native emphasizes, “Our goal is still to stay in the league, even if we are up there after ten match days. We want to achieve class preservation as quickly as possible and then we’ll see what all is possible. We’ve seen that we can beat absolutely any opponent if we go to our performance limits. I am firmly convinced of that. But we also know that we can be beaten if we drop two or three percentage points. We’ll continue to try to look from game to game.”

The fact that 1. FC Bocholt, as a surprise team so far, is performing so well is also thanks to Fakhro. He has scored eight goals in nine games, making him the top scorer in the Regionalliga West. The brawny striker also scored twice in the recent 2-0 win over FC Gütersloh.

He says with a smile about his current form: “I’m very, very pleased with my start. It’s clear that I want to help the team with my goals from week to week. That’s my goal. Every goal really makes me even hungrier. The most important thing is of course the team’s success, but I could also get used to things continuing to go so well. “

It was a goal right from the start that we wanted to be a force at home. We’ve succeeded in that so far. The spectators are what make this fortress so special. They give us outstanding support and we definitely want to extend this streak.

Malek Fakhro.

The Bocholt team has been particularly strong at the “Hünting” this season. All five home games have been won, making FCB the strongest team in the league at home.

According to top scorer Fakhro, this strength is no coincidence: “The fans simply cheer us on every week, even in the away games. You only have to look at how full the block was in Oberhausen. But especially in our living room, we’re happy about this support. It was a goal right from the start that we wanted to be a force at home. We’ve succeeded so far. The spectators make this fortress so special. They give us outstanding support and we definitely want to extend this series. “