The 35-year-old Levan Kobiashvili, former captain of the Georgian national team, posted a letter on his Facebook page. “Kobi” is disappointed and it is clear – he has to leave the national team in a strange situation. He has played and plays in lineup of “Hertha” Berlin. Levan held the 100th match in the national team and has not been called up since then.
Levan is the only Georgian who held 100 matches in the national team. His last match was against Greece in Tbilisi in November 2011.
Letter of Kobiashvili:
"Hello
I am sorry to thank you this way. I want to thank everybody for your support which I have felt for many years. Membership of the Georgian national team was always priority for me. In spite of many difficulties, I always did my best. I did everything for my country and team.
It always made me happy to wear jersey of the national team. I thank everybody who I played with in the national team. Especially, I want to name Rezo Dzodzuashvili, Aleksandre Chivadze and Davit Kipiani. They played a key role in my football career.
Unfortunately, my and Georgian fans’ dream to play at European or World Championships did not come true for me as a football player. I wish good luck to the national team. From now on, it has one more fan.
There are people at Georgian Football Federation who were football players and they know what it means for sportsman a farewell match. I am sorry that they did not act properly.
I hope the federation will break this bad tradition and will hold a farewell match for football players. I will not be an active football player but I will return to Georgian football for sure.
Yours sincerely, Levan Kobiashvili”.
Ilia Nanobashvili
