born in câmpina, prahova county, costescu began playing football with "sterom câmpina" in divizia d (romanian fourth division), and in 1996 he moved to the representative team of the same town, poiana câmpina, in divizia b, the romanian second division. he played 2 years for poiana câmpina, scoring 15 goals in 60 games, helping the team getting a top 10 finish in both seasons.