The members of Georgian National Basketball Team have been training at gym of Basketball Academy located in Vake for two weeks. They have been training for final tournament of European Championship which holds in Lithuania on August-September.
We have already provided you interviews of several candidates of National Team (Markoishvili, Tskitishvili, Tughushi…). This time we would like to offer you interview of Giorgi Gamkrelidze, fans of Georgian National Team know him since 2005.
It worth to be mentioned that Gamkrelidze is a representative of such Georgian basketball generation who won Georgian U-20 National Championship and got right to compete among the most powerful players.
- How much satisfied you are with training of the current candidates of national team?
- Avto Beridze is a very experienced coach. He is our fitness trainer for several seasons and everything is all right now.
- According to spent information that Gamkrelidze trains individually..
- In the morning I train with national team and at “Dinamo” base under Davit Tortladze in the evening.
- How long have you been training under Tortladze?
- My team “Giesen” could not manage to go through German play-off and took the 14th place am,ong 18 teams. Due to it I Have not trained for two months and that’s why I have individual training and Tortladze is my coach.
- You playing rare in 2010-11 seasons, especially in the second circle…
- “Giesen” had good start, but then was losing very often. That’s why head coach was changed. Then I was injured and that’s why I could not play.
- How do you feel now?
- I have recovered and I feel well now.
- Has you agreement been expired with “Giesen”?
- I had one-year agreement and it has been expired. Now I am without club and my agent Manuel Kapikion works on my future club.
- You are supposed to know that “Army” as well as “Guoteng” went through Euro Challenge. Do you know this club?
- “Guoteng” tok the 8th place in National Championship, but for “Army” it is quite strong rival. There are 10 legionaries in “Guoteng”. I do not know its condition now.
- How much popular is basketball in Germany?
- There are 18 participant clubs in National Championship and most of gyms which are for 3-4000 fans are always full. So, it can be said that basketball is very popular in Germany.
-If any Georgian clubs (“Army”, “Sokhumi”) which compete at Euro Challenge, will you agree with it?
- If they offer me desirable terms I will agree in any case.
- How do you think, which team will go though the next stage?
- Slovenia and Russia are favorites of the group, which will share the I-II places, Georgia is a main candidate which will take the third place.
- Is it your wish, or..?
-According to the staff we are favorites, that’s why it is reality.
- How do you think, which team is favorite of final tournament of European Championship?
- Spanish, Serbian, Slovenian and Lithuanian teams will go through the semi-final. As for champion, I do not want to name it yet.
Roland Labuchidze
