Old football fans and veteran football players remember some Georgian clubs and forward of the USSR junior team, European vice-champion Gia Chincharauli. He showed up at the beginning of 1980 and many thought this talented boy could achieve success but he left football for two years and… he had to serve in the Soviet army which was very far from football.
Chincharauli returned to football at the end of the 80’s. He played for different Georgian clubs. At the beginning of the 90’s he left Georgia and was tested in German clubs. Then, his trace disappeared from football…
I accidentally met Chincharauli in Belgium where I attended the sixth round matches of the elite round at European Championship. Irakl Jgenti, staff of Georgian embassy in Belgium, told me that he would introduce me to veteran Georgian football player living in Mechelen. When I heard his last name Chincharauli, I could not hide my happiness. In Belgium I met the person whose last name I remembered from the USSR junior team.
Gia Chincharauli has lived in Belgium for 15 years. Our conversation was held in Bornem. Of course, we started the conversation from his youth:
- Mr. Gia! How did you get in the USSR junior team?
- I did not think then, if it was tough or easy to get in Georgian and the USSR junior teams. I was born in Tianeti, grew up in Tbilisi. I have learnt and played at the 35th football school. My first coach was Shukri Chumburidze. In 1981 Georgian U-15 team coached by Joni Janelidze won the Soviet tournament. I became a top scorer of this tournament. Representatives of the USSR junior team noticed me. Anatoliy Byshovets, former forward of “Dynamo” Kyiv and the USSR team, coached this team. He invited me to the team where I played for 3 years. We won international tournaments and became vice-champions of Europe in 1984. European Championship took place in German Federal Republic. The final was held in Ulm near Stuttgart – it was May 1984. In the final we lost to the West German. Sklyarov, Kuzhlev, Gagloev, Mirzoyan, Karapetyan, Bubliauskas played for the USSR U-18 team. They were good players. My dream was to get in “Dinamo” Tbilisi and this dream came true when Davit Kipiani (1951-2001) invited me to the club. I was 18 years old. Mr. Davit had a good attitude toward his players, including me. But it was not easy to get in lineup. In 1985 Davit Kipiani was asked to resign from the position of head coach and Nodar Akhalkatsi (1938-1998) returned to “Dinamo”. I hoped that such experienced and famous coach would let me play in lineup but unfortunately, it did not happen. I had to leave the club. Before that coaches of CSKA and “Dynamo” Moscow invited me to their clubs.
- And you did not go to the Moscow clubs? You could have tried there and then, you would have been asked to return to “Dinamo” Tbilisi…
- I did not have a good advisor. I thought if I had left Georgia and played for other republic, it would have been betrayal for fans and my relatives. I wanted to play for the best Georgian club – “Dinamo” Tbilisi. That is why, I denied offer of CSKA and “Dynamo” Moscow. Albert Shesternyov, head coach of CSKA and former captain of the USSR team, invited me and called me in Tbilisi several times. He told me: “Gia, come here, play and then we will see”. Mr. Albert was a head coach of CSKA in 1982-83. Then, he was a manager of CSKA football school. Shesternyov invited me to Moscow but denied his offer because I wanted to play for “Dinamo” Tbilisi but in 1985 Nodar Akhalkatsi returned to “Dinamo”… I had to leave the club and went to Armenia instead of CSKA.
- Did “Ararat” Yerevan invite you?
- No, I served in army in Armenia. I served for 2 years but I did not play football there.
- Perhaps, you offended Akhalkatsi and that is why he dismissed you…
- No, I did not. I did not behave badly or violate discipline. Perhaps, he did not like me because Davit Kipiani brought me there. It often happens in football – current coach does not like some players brought by the previous one…
- Did you return to football after the army?
- Yes, but two years were lost for football. I played for “Shevardeni” Tbilisi, “Dila” Gori – it was second league of the USSR. I started the Georgian Championship in “Dila”. Then, I played for “Iveria” Khashuri, “Alazani” Gurjaani. In 1994 I left for Germany and played there. I had a chance to play for “Nurnberg” but I got injured. Then, I returned to Georgia in 1996. I married Tamila Kvinrtadze. In 1998 I departed for Belgium. After one year I took my wife and daughter there. I work in Mechelen and live with my family. My daughter Dali is 15 years old. My son Saba was born in Belgium. He is 11 years old.
- Your boy plays for Belgian Children Supreme League!
- Yes, three Georgians play for Belgian Children Supreme League. My son played for “KV Mechelen”. He is invited to better club “Gent”. Giorgi Iosava played for one of the clubs of the Belgian Children Supreme League. Now he transferred to “Lokeren”. Tsotne Bendianashvili played for “Kortrijk”. Now he is in “Gent”. So, two Georgians will play for “Gent” now – Tsotne and Saba will be together.
I am not only father to my son. I am his advisor and friend too. Nobody gave me advices and that is why I lost my chance. So, I am trying to be his advisor and coach. He plays successfully.
- If Saba becomes great football player, in which team he will play – in Georgian or Belgium? You also had a choice – “Dinamo” Tbilisi or CSKA. What will you advise your son?
- It is early to talk about it. It is his decision but I want him to play for the Georgian national team.
My dream is to ask my friends in Georgia to invite the Belgian Children Club and my son will play in Tbilisi. They will see football in Georgia… If the team does not arrive in Tbilisi, I will try to hold a tournament here in Belgium.
We ended interview with Gia. I hope Saba will achieve a great success in football.
Tengiz Pachkoria, Bornem, Belgium, specially for www.worldsport.ge
Photos from the archive of Gia Chincharauli; Gia stands beside Anatoliy Byshovets
