Before New Year, owner of “Baia” Zugdidi made unpleasant surprise for head coach of the team. Elguja Kometiani received a phone call and was informed that he was not head coach of “Baia” anymore. Later, he was told that he would stay in the team and would be an assistant of a new coach Gocha Tkebuchava.
This season, it happened for the 10th time when team of Supreme League has changed head coach. The following teams have old coaches: “Merani” Martvili, “Wit Georgia” Tbilisi and “Dinamo” (“Dila” Gori has changed the coach twice).
“World Sport” talked to former coach and current second coach of “Baia” Elguja Kometiani about recent events.
- Mr. Elguja, as we know you were dismissed from the position of head coach.
- I received a phone call before New Year. I was told that Gocha Tkebuchava would become head coach of “Baia”. Today, I was offered to stay in the team and I agreed – I will stay and support a new head coach. Now, I do not think it will be right to stand aside because Zugdidi deserves respect from me.
- It is clear that who pays money he makes decisions. Do you know the reason of your dismissal?
- I was interested in it but nobody told me anything.
I cannot understand what happened. Did they think that we failed this season or could not fulfill any goal? We have not talked about it.
To tell the truth I was surprised. When our team was in the second-third places, I made statement about resignation. After losing to “Wit Georgia” (on September 18 0:1), I said if you are dissatisfied with this result you can hire a new head coach. There were some candidates but this process stopped.
A lot of injuries prevented us from playing well and if we were not in Top 3 we also were not in dangerous zone. Though, I believe if not health problems of leading football players we would have had more points than “Baia” has now (after 18 matches, “Baia” is in the 6th place with 24 points – Ph.K.).
To tell the truth, I myself was surprised with such result. I think this result is maximum what “Baia” can do but someone seems to think much more could have been achieved.
- Who stays in the team?
- Some people will stay but important ones want to leave. Guguchia, Rigvava and Samushia decided to leave the team. Also, Ekhvaia (to “Dila”), Tsurtsumia (to “Kolkheti” Poti), Somkhishvili want to leave. Apakidze and Sikharulia also think about leaving. I think it is great when our football players are on demand.
- What are contours of a new team?
- Today, (conversation was recorded on January 4 – Ph.K.) I was at the training base. We wrote down names of those local football players who we count on. Levan Kutalia will return from Bosnia. Also, Gocha Tkebuchava will come back and staff of a new team will be found out.
- When will the team hold a meeting?
- I called up the players for January 5. They will come and we will talk. Tkebuchava and I agreed that we will call up the players for January 10 and we will start preparation.
Phridon Kervalishvili
