“We all know that different spheres were threatened, except basketball and rugby, almost all kinds of federations were controlled by members of National Movement”, “Georgia, Georgian society must achieve fair presidential elections of the federation”, “I am not coming only with naked enthusiasm, I will present all plans of election campaign and it will be transparent for the society”, “Football and politics must be departed, otherwise we will not avoid contradistinctions”, - these are the words of Mikheil Kavelashvili which he stated in an interview with “World Sport”.

41-year-old Kavelashvili came back to Georgia few days ago and on Tuesday he attended a friendly match between Georgian and Danish U-21 teams. He openly speaks about special congress of Georgian Football Federation and Mikheil Kavelashvili will present his own candidature.

-          “World Sport” has taken lots of interviews from you but always when you were in Switzerland. Have not you been to Georgia for a long time?

-         I have not been here for 2,5 years. I missed my homeland and came back. It was difficult for me but it was better to be in Switzerland.

-         It is clear that it was connected with you being in opposition of government. What was happening?

-         It is no use to talk about personal problems. Now the government has changed. People expressed their own will and it is the most important.

-         Have not you met Bidzina Ivanishvili?

-         No, I have not.

-         You always stated Zviad Sichinava, current president of GFF, was appointed not elected. You wanted special congress to be held but nobody listened to you. Now when “Georgian Dream” won parliamentary elections, people state special elections will be held in the federation and you will present your candidature. What can you say?

-         The elections must be held before I present my candidature. We do not think new government must interfere in GFF. Special elections must be held. President must be elected not appointed. The society does not trust appointed president. Everybody knows about this injustice. Let the elections be held and Zviad Sichinava participates in it.

-         Sichinava is president till 2015. Is there any chance to hold the elections before that?

-         It is not only my and several people’s opinion. The society must be interested to hold fair elections. The same must happen in football too.

-         What role must the government have in football?

-         As I know, it was said that officials will not interfered in appointing staff. We all know that different spheres were threatened. Except basketball and rugby, members of “National Movement” were in all kinds of federations. It did not work for Georgian football. Football was not attractive for businessmen. We must present project which will attract businessmen. The government must fulfill its obligation.

-         Levan Kipiani, one of the founders of “Our Football”, became minister of Sports and Youth Affairs…

-         Levan is one of the founders of “Our Football”. He is my partner and I think he will work well. I wish him good luck.

-         You might have worked in football for 2,5 years and you might have your program for development of football. The society wants to know this program.

-         My project will be transparent and I will present it not only to delegates but also to journalists and fans. If special presidential elections are held, we will hold campaign.

Each candidate must present his program two months before the elections. There must be TV debates. It will be transparent. It is important to evaluate future president of GFF. I do not say that I must win. If anyone presents better program, no problem, I will welcome it. But that program must be fulfilled, like we will do in case of victory.

-         Your main goal is to pay attention to children’s football.

-         Yes, it is. Nowadays, when our national team wins one match, we say – well done, Georgian football has improved. I am very surprised why people believe it. We only think about the national team and do not know what is happening in foundation.

Children’s football is the main in our program. We only manage something at the expense of talent. We use only 5 per cent of our resources.

Ilia Nanobashvili