The forward has played 10 A League games out of the 11 scheduled only missing one through illness as hes established himself as a key man in Ufuk Talay’s side.
Wellington have announced a string of contract extensions over the past week with Steven Taylor, Alex Rufer, Tim Payne and Sotirio committing their future to the New Zealand outfit for the next two-to-three years.
“The one-year deal was always a bit of a risk but I like a challenge and that was to come here and have a good year and I think I’m doing really well,” said the 24-year-old Sydney native.
Good start
With one goal and three assists, the former Western Sydney youth products decision to move to the Black and Yellow has paid off but Sotirio isn’t slowing down just yet. “I just need to score more goals and get more assists and I think I’ll be all right,” he added.
Luckily, the Phoenix posses strikers with European experience and bags of goals to their name. Gary Hooper might not be fully fit but the ex-Celtic star has 82 goals in 138 appearances for the Scottish outfit and will be the perfect player to learn from. David Ball has a lesser pedigree but still has close to 100 professional strikes and that cant be discounted.
“With Ball and Hooper we’ve got a great attacking force next to me and were definitely learning every day. With more goals I’ll get more confidence,” continued Sotirio.
The Phoenix have Central Coast Mariners up next and they will be favourites to win that game - while Talay’s side could claim four wins from four in January. But nobody is taking anything for granted as Sotirio insisted no side could be taken for granted in this competition.
Big dreams
With two more years of first team football under his belt, the Australian could be the man to lead the Nix to an A-League title. And after that? Who knows. He added: “You all have personal dreams and goals and mine is to get to Europe, but I’m very happy at Wellington.”
That risk he took in the winter of 2019 might turn out to be the best decision he ever made.