Petr Elic, former legionary of “Dinamo” Tbilisi has talked about period spent in Georgia. Forward of Russian football club “Volga” pas playing for “Dinamo” Tbilisi at this time last year, he was playing on loan for Georgian club. 25-year-old Bosnian Elic, who also has citizenship of Serbia has talked to “Sport-Express”:

- How was your reaction when you learnt that you would play for “Dinamo” Tbilisi?

- I had a very strange period in my life. “Volga” went through Premier League and on some web-site read that, “Rubin” had offer to Elic, but after Turkish meeting.. I was in Tbilisi. I was said that it was good either for me or for “Volga”. It goes without saying that I knew that “Dinamo” Tbilisi was a very good club. When transferring period finished, then started discussion of my loaning. I did not have chance of returning in Europe. What was left for me?- going to Georgia or staying in the first division of Russia, where three-four clubs offering me to join. I made decision to go to Tbilisi. I spent three months there and it can be said that it is a very nice city. At the beginning everything was perfect- we used to win and I used to play, but then I broke my toe and missed the last stage of championship. I held six matches in “Dinamo”.

- How was your parents’ reaction about your original traveling?

- At the beginning my mother was giving me a lot of questions, but I told her that I needed playing practice. She was in Tbilisi for two weeks, but during this period it was raining.

- What about championship level of Georgia?

- There are a lot of technical players, but they need more space for becoming high-level players and train. It seemed that this country lacks of stadiums. I have recently read that they are solving this problem. To my mind if they solve this problem, their championship level also will become higher.

- Where was the most original stadium in Georgia? When I watched videos in “Dinamo” web-site, some of the matches are held in remote places…

- It is difficult to say. Only two or three stadiums were good, others were “kitchen garden”.

- What about attendance of the matches? “Dinamo” holds the matches at huge stadium and supposedly tribunes were empty…

- The stadium was full at Georgia-Croatia match and atmosphere also was nice. Why people do not go to national championship matches? I do not know, I did not have time to learn local mentality. “Dinamo” is a big, public club. Players of “Dinamo” know it and they do not let themselves to relax. When we had away matches, little 5000-man stadiums were 2/3 full.

- How many legionaries are in Georgia?

- There are 7-8 foreigners in “Dinamo”. When I left the club, 5 Spanish players were transferred, because Spanish coach was appointed as a head coach of the club. This coach was head coach of youth club of “Barcelona”, where Marc Crosas used to play.

- Marc Crosas also could go to Tbilisi, but he left for Mexico…

- Yes, Crosas had a perfect chance to create career in Tbilisi, but mentioned Spanish coach does not train “Dinamo” any more. But Spanish players stayed in the club, among them is Xisco-a good forward, he used to play for ‘Valencia”. As far as I know he is one of the best bombardiers in Georgia.

- What language did you speak there?

- 90% of the players knew either Russian or English.  It was difficult to study Georgia, because they have their own and special alphabet. I could not read writings but I knew necessary words which are used while playing.

- Was not it difficult that you could not read Georgian writings?

- Almost everyone knows Russian. I did not expect that so many people speak Russian in Georgia. That’s why I did not have any problem.

- What was surprising in Georgian mentality?

- Georgian people are very religious- more than Russians and Serbians. Georgia is not a big country, but there are a lot of churches. People know history of their country very well. For example, when we went to Kutaisi, we came up to the hill to see some local church. I was told history of this church in details and it was very surprising for me.

- As a football player, what did you get in Georgia Supreme League?

- I arrived there for three months and I know about it at the beginning. Three days before starting season I joined the club and at the beginning I only used to train. Besides me there were three Serbians in “Dinamo” and that’s why adaptation was easy for me. Three months ended too quickly, but in spite of this short period besides playing, I got trauma and recovered during this time.

Ilia Nanobashvili