Georgian Champion and Cup owner “Lelo” Tbilisi is preparing for the first match of “The Black Sea Cup”. Head coach OF “Lelo” Levan Maisashvili hopes that club will gain newly-established cup. On the initiative of Georgian Rugby Union was established this tournament and International Rugby Council carrying out it. Supposedly, to hold “The Black Sea Cup” will become tradition in the future. Powerful rugby clubs from the region will take place in this tournament (Among them Russian clubs, which were to play this year, but finally denied to participate in it). Champion club of Georgia for training was in Akhaldaba more than week. Now they are in Mtskheta and having training twice a day. There were quite changes in the club. Three rugby players continued career in France. Vito Kolelishvili also left club but he is still in Georgia and in “The Black Sea Cup” will represent “Lelo”. Besides this midfielder Lasha Khmaladze and back liner Aleksandre Todua suffer from injuries. Dato Daushvili will join from Ukraine and 8 rugby players will be added from other Georgian clubs for International tournaments.
At “The Black Sea Cup” 2-2 Georgian, Ukrainian and Romanian clubs were to play, but due to financial problems, one Ukrainian club denied to participate in this tournament. This club was replaced by “Lokomotivi”. There will be two groups with three clubs and each club will hold two matches. Leaders of group will fight for the main prize. The second place winners will fight each other for the 3rd place and others for the 5th place.
In group B will be “Batumi XV“(the 2nd place-winner in Georgian Championship), “Lokomotivi” Tbilisi (the 3rd place-winner) and Romanian “Arad”. “Arad” is among the best 6 Romanian clubs in current Romanian Championship. “Arad” has 6 wins from 8 matches and is on the 5th place with 36 points.
In group A opponents of “Lelo” will be Ukrainian best club “Kredo 63” and Romanian “Bukarest”. Georgians will hold first match against Ukrainians in August 24. In August 28 will be held the second round matches and “Kredo 63” will play against “Bukarest”. Georgian and Romanian clubs will be opponents in September 1. “Bukarest” is outsider in Romanian Championship. This club has 9 wins and 5 loses in 14 matches, collected 42 points and is 17-point advance from other lubs. So the 7 th place is guaranteed for them.
“World News” took an interview about tournament’s importance, future plans and expectations from head coach of “Lelo” Levan Mamisashvili.
Levan Maisashvili: “It is good that was established “The Black Sea Cup” and will be better if it becomes tradition. Georgian clubs have lack of participation in the International tournaments. Our teams only participate in Georgian Championship and Cup, where meet the same clubs which is not good. To play against foreign clubs and get experience is necessary. In spite of this, that rugby popularity is lower in Ukraine than in Georgia and Romanian clubs are not leading clubs of their country they are more developed than Georgian clubs.
It is necessary Georgian rugby players to get experience in International matches. In other way Georgian clubs and championship will not be able to develop. It is good that our infrastructure improves time by time and I hope new stadiums will be built in the future. But playing is other experience and without it we will not succeed. It is true that we have strong National Team, Georgian Team A was created, but there play such legionaries who do not play in National Teams. Team A does not include only Georgian clubs, rugby players are given chance to get big experience with participation in this International Tournament, because all team include such rugby players who participate in Championship.
- Where and how prepares “Lelo” for “The Black Sea Cup”?
- We had first training in Borjomi Gorge in Akhaldaba. We spent there eight days and paid more attention to physical training. Then we decided to name those rugby players who will in “The Black Sea Cup” and since August 16 gathered in Mtskheta “Mtskheta Palace”, where we stayed at till the end of tournament. We have intensive training. Everything is all right. We have training twice a day and preparing for next matches in football base in Saguramo.
- After first round, some rugby players left team…
- Yes, they did. Irakli Mirtskhulava, Giorgi Menabdishvili and Shota Tskhovrebashvili are in France and continue career in French clubs. Vito Kolelishvili will play in French “Klermon”, but he has some document problems, he is still with us and will play in “The Black Sea Cup” in any case. Lasha Khmaladze and Aleksandre Todua suffer from injuries. Unfortunately, they will not be able to help us till the end of the tournament.
- In permission of IRB clubs competing in “The Black Sea Cup” have right to use some rugby players from other clubs.
- Yes it is true and we added eight rugby players from other clubs and they will help us at “The Black Sea Cup”, after the tournament they will return their clubs. Besides this, we added David Daushvili who brought up in “Lelo”, but now plays in “Aviator” Kiev. He will stay in our club till the end of tournament. Two players Karlen Aseishvili and Shalva Mamukashvili are from “Vissol- Kochebi”, three players, Tornike Lomidze, Gela Shalamberidze and back-liner Irakli Chkhikvadze from “Aia” Kutaisi. We added 1-1 players from “Lokomotivi”, “Academy” and TSU “Lions”. So, Zviad Maisuradze, Mikhail Gachechiladze and Lasha Bairamashvili will join the club.
- “Lokomotivi” competes in “The Black Sea Cup” and how they give up one of the leader Maisuradze?
- “Lokomotivi” had not to compete in this tournament and we had more advantages of chose rugby players. We agreed that Maisuradze would help us, but then Ukrainian team denied of take place in this tournament. We had negotiations with Portugal clubs, but lack of time they also denied of take place in “The Black Sea Cup” and “Lokomotivi” took the 6th place among the clubs. We had already agreed about Maisuradze and that’s why they gave in.
- We are to play with Ukrainian “Kredo 63” and “Bukarest” at group stage. What information do you have about opponents?
-We could not find video records of Romanian clubs. We asked for help Georgian legionaries in Romania and got some information from them. We know much more about Ukrainians. They were training in Batumi, held two friendly matches and beat “Aia” Kutaisi and “Batumi XV”. We have some information about both clubs and will know more after first matches.
- What is the goal of “Lelo”, to win “The Black Sea Cup”?
- Of course it is.
- What will be our trump against the opponent?
- As I have already mentioned, we will be able to say more about opponents after first matches. We know that we will have problems in defense. Khmaladze suffers from injury and Bairamashvili has to replace him. He is good player but do not have experience of playing in our club. Many things were depend on Khmaladze, but I hope that Bairamashvili also will do his best.
Schedule of tournament:
Group A
August 24, Tuesday. 20:00
Lokomotiv (Tbilisi) - Arad (Romania)
August 28, Saturday. 18:00
BatumiXV (Batumi) - Arad (Romania)
September 1, Wednesday. 18:00
BatumiXV (Batumi) - Lokomotiv (Tbilisi)
Group B
August 24, Tuesday. 18:00
Lelo (Tbilisi) - Kredo 63 (Ukraine)
August 28, Saturday. 20:00
Kredo 63 (Ukraine) - Bucharest (Romania)
September 1, Wednesday. 20:00
Lelo (Tbilisi) - Bucharest (Romania)
September 4, Saturday. For the 5th place
A III - B III (18:00)
September 4, Saturday. For the 3rd place
A II - B II (20:00)
September 5, Sunday. Final
A I - B I (19:00)
"Mikheil Meskhi" stadium will host the matches.
Zura Ksovreli
