Petre Grigoraș, the 61-year-old Romanian football coach, and Dorin Semeghin, his former star player, have reunited after nearly two decades apart. The encounter took place in the locker room of Cetatea Suceava, a second-division team in the Romanian football league. Their meeting is a testament to the enduring legacy of a famous exchange that has become an integral part of Romanian football folklore.
In March 2008, a heated match between Oțelul Galați and Rapid Bucharest sparked a memorable exchange between Grigoraș and Semeghin. The latter had pleaded multiple times for the referee to award him a foul, only to be met with the now-famous retort: “Du-te, bă, la șah!” (“Go, boy, play chess!”). The witty exchange has been etched in the memories of football fans across the country.
Last month, Grigoraș was asked about his former pupil and the infamous chess remark. He humorously claimed that he could still beat Semeghin at a game of chess. “I’m sure I’d win at a game of chess! But I haven’t seen him at all. I understand he left for England. I don’t know much about him anymore,” Grigoraș quipped.
Fast forward to a few months later, the two football legends found themselves face-to-face once again in the locker room of Cetatea Suceava. The images captured in the locker room reveal that the 2008 exchange has not been forgotten by either party. Semeghin approached Grigoraș as soon as he entered the locker room, addressing him with a nod to their past encounter: “Domn profesor…” (“Mr. Professor…”). Grigoraș responded in kind, embracing the banter and replying, “Aduceți pentru șah, vă rog frumos” (“Bring your chess skills, please”).
Their reunion has left fans and players alike with a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the enduring legacy of their famous exchange. Grigoraș, still smiling about the encounter, praised Semeghin’s skills on the pitch: “He was one of the best players I ever coached. He could center the ball perfectly. It was a pleasure to see him again. He hasn’t changed – still with the same humor and spirit.”
Ciprian Anton, the president of the Suceava Football Association, reflected on the period when Semeghin played for Cetatea Suceava: “It was an emotional moment not just for Grigoraș, but for me as well. I remembered the time when Semeghin played for our team 16 years ago. He’s the same Semeghin we all know, and it was great to see him again and see how much joy it brought to our players.”
The reunion of Grigoraș and Semeghin serves as a testament to the lasting impact of their famous exchange on Romanian football history. As they continue to share stories and laughter, it’s clear that their legacy will endure for generations to come.
The chess match may be over, but the legacy lives on.