Defense line has been changed several times since Ketsbaia is head coach of Georgian national football team, but Aleksandre Amisulashvili does not arouse any suspicion. 29-year-old Amisulashvili did well in the previous match against Albania, on February 29.

Amisulashvili scored the second goal for national team, he scored the first goal 7 years ago against Turkey 2:5.

 “World Sport” has connected captain of “Krasnodar”, the conversation was not only about the sparring match against Albania. We talked about his past too, about Kakheti, where he was born and where football does not exist else in fact:

- I am happy that we beat Albania. We started this year with victory too, but it is pitiful that such resonance followed referring.  As if referee brought us victory and we did not do anything else. When we are victims of bad referring, why it is not mentioned anywhere? To my mind we deserved this victory. In the first half we did not start well, but in the second one as everyone saw we managed to mobilize and gained superiority. 

-What did cause weak playing in the first period?

- 8 players from 11 were holding the first official match in this year. Season was not started in Russia and Ukraine at that time, so it reflected on us in the first period. Who has ever played football, he will agree with me that it is important. Time-by-time we started mobilization in the second period. But it is pitiful that it was said that referee “won” this match, not we.

- You seem disappointed. As for referring, before kicking the second time, while kicking the first time, the ball touched Kenia and he was out-side. 

- To tell the truth I sis not watch this moment, but we had superiority over them and deserved victory. It was not match won by referee.

- How do you think what advantages and disadvantages have Georgian national team got?

- Head coach knows it well and he has to decide. He knows it well and works on it. But Georgian national team is not such team which can beat Albania 7:0 or 8:0.

- Now Zurab Khizanishvili plays in the centre of defense, but before you used to play in couple with Akaki Khubutia and Malkhaz Asatiani. What about “Khizana”?

- I do not have any problem to play in couple with Khizanishvili, Khubutia or Asatiani.

- As for club news: Season started in Russia, “Krasnodar” is among 8 teams and as a result it does not have motivation..

- Our goal is to take the first place among these eight clubs. We are in the first place and hope at the end of the competition we will have the same result. It is our goal in this season, but we have high goals for the next championship.

- Going through Euro tournaments?

- Yes, it is.

- Is anything being done for strengthening the club?

- Sure, it is being done. A week earlier before starting championship was formed the club and when we played the first match in Premier League, even did not know name of some players.

- Everyone knows you as an even-tempered person and you were appointed as captain.. Georgian captain in Russian club…

- Yes I am an even-tempered person, but when it is necessary I can cry and get angry. Fortunately I do not need to cry and scream. As for Georgian captainship in Russia, it is not problem in our team. No one looks into your passport, where are you from.

- Last year, you joined “Krasnodar” from Shota Arveladze’s “Kaiseryspor”. Shota was disappointed due to it and did not hide it. Have you met him and talked about it?

- Yes, we have met and talked about it. In my place, everyone would do the same.

- What did happen in “Kaiseryspor”?

- I got on well with the club, Shota Arveladze was supporting me and everyone was pleased with my playing. In a word, I did not have any problem in playing football. But my family could not get Turkey well and that’s why I preferred to move. Appeared the club, which was interested with me, it was ambitious and I was offered quite good terms. So, everything happened due to my family. I preferred to return Russia.

- What about Turkish and Russian Premier Leagues? Which one of better?

- Championship in Turkey is quite strong, but Russian one is better.

- Have not you had chance of joining better club?

- I really have not been offered from European strong clubs. When I was 21-year-old I joined “Dinamo” Kiev from “Dinamo” Tbilisi, then I lost my chance… but it is impossible to return time. I do not want to blame only coach, maybe I also did something wrong, I was not given chance to play in “Dinamo” Kiev and that’s why my career was massed up.

- In 2005 you returned “Dinamo” Tbilisi, but before that you did not have playing practice in Ukraine at all and Amisulashvili was not considered as player else..

- It was a very difficult period and I am grateful of Kakha Tskhadadze. At that time he was head coach of “Dinamo” Tbilisi and he gave me chance to play. I fact, I started my new career. Then I used to play for “Tavrya”, “Shinik” and “Spartak” Nalchik.

- You were a leader of “Nalchik”.

- I played for three years and Moscow clubs were interested with me. Everything was almost decided, I left for Moscow, found apartment, but “Spartak” Nalchik demanded more money and that’s why I could not join Moscow club. After expiring contract with “Spartak”, I joined “Kaiseryspor”.

-You were born and grew up in Telavi, do you manage to visit your homr-town?

- I manage it very rare, but I am missing it. My parents are living in Telavi. I am very disappointed that football is dead in Kakheti. When I used to play for “Kakheti” Telavi, even first league matches has quite big follow-up. It is pity that it does not happen now…

 

Ilia Nanobashvili