After two years, Shota Khabareli, former head coach of Georgian judo team, returned to judo. In autumn 2009, Dilar Khabuliani, former president of Georgian Judo Federation, dismissed Khabareli because of the team’s failure at World Championship. The real reason was conflict between these two people. President of the federation won this conflict. Judokas were involved in the conflict. After a year, Khabuliani left the federation. New president Giorgi Aleksidze appointed Khabareli as the first vice-president. Khabareli estimated previous World Championship in the conversation with “World Sport”.

- Welcome back to the active judo.

- Thank you. I returned two weeks ago and spent all the time at World Championship. I start working now.

- You did not work in judo but you knew everything what was going on there. What has changed?

- A lot of things have changed. The team had three coaches in three years. I know that all coaches have some problems. The most important is that everything will be on its place soon.

- If it is not a secret, what did you expect from World Championship?

- I waited for it with great interest. Peter Seisenbacher, new head coach of the team, changed the preparation program and wrestling style. He has his own methods. It is bad because we forgot our Georgian style. Georgians had advantage because we wrestled from above. To tell the truth, I do not like the principle of the preparation. I do not want to talk only about minuses. We also have progress, especially in physical preparation.

- How do you estimate wrestling of Georgian team on the Paris tatami?

- I cannot call it fatal. I liked wrestling of Chrikishvili and Liparteliani who lost to Japanese Nishiyama at the individual championship but beat him at the team one. Tsirekidze was the best as usual. I must mention good wrestling of Levan Zhorzholiani. Neither Amiran Papinashvili wrestled badly. The coach must make the right conclusions.

- Members of the team looked exhausted. Do you think they reached peak of form before the championship?

- It is not easy to say. The boys must pass gradual preparation.

- So, the federation will interfere in competence of the head coach?

- I said I hope the head coach will make the right conclusions. If it is necessary, we will behave so that it will not make the coach angry.

- Some other strong specialists left judo with you two years ago. For example, head coach of the youth team Boris Pitskhelauri. Do you plan to restore justice?

- Pitskhelauri is a strong specialist. Also, Bidzina Mokhevishvili and Jemal Natelashvili were dismissed. These people played a key role in success of Georgian judo. We must do our best to return them.
 

Otar Maglakelidze