According to the President of Georgian Basketball Federation Mikheil Gabrichidze, the state will help all the clubs participating in Super League. Besides, the First League will be created, where six teams will fight for making through to Super League. “World Sport” talked to the president about these topics:
-After yesterday's meeting with the clubs of Super League, it became known that the teams will receive unequal funding. Why?
-It is impossible to put all the clubs in the same conditions, because some of them have sponsors, while others do not. Assistance of Federation and the state towards the clubs is designed for 1 year, that is, from January 2015 until December. “Dinamo”, “Olimpi” and “Mgzavrebi-Armia” will receive 300-300 thousand GEL. The local self-government will fund the regional teams “Rustavi”, “Kutaisi-2010” and “Batumi”. The Interior Ministry will fund “MIA Academy” and the Ministry of Railways will help “Sokhumi”. Besides, all the teams of Super League, which will keep their place after the end of current 24th national Championship, will receive 100-100 thousand GEL. In addition, each team has the right to find sponsors and receive additional income. After this, we have a right to say that in Super League will no longer be poor clubs. For example, as “Sokhumi”, which was left without sponsor because of unexplained reasons and barely finished the season.
-You mentioned the question of keeping the club in the Super League. There are talks for a long time about the creation of the First League, but the Federation has not made an official statement on this subject…
-First League will be surely created and 6 teams will fight for making through to Super League.
-Why 6, when according to unconfirmed data, up to 17 teams had expressed a desire to play in the first league?
-We think, that those players who were left without a club after the reduction of the number of clubs in the Super League, have to distribute in 6 teams.
-In one of the conversations with “World Sport” you said that Armenian teams will also play in First League. How many Armenian clubs will be and what will be their status?
-Armenian colleagues contacted us and asked to play in first league. It will be at least one and maximum 2 teams. They will be out of the competition.
-How many first league teams will make through to super league?
-At the end of this season 2 best teams of first league will face 7-8 placed super league teams and the best 2 teams will play in super league. Different system will be activated from 2015-2016. The winner of first league automatically makes through to super league. First league’s second placed and super league’s penultimate placed teams will face for going through to super league. The best among them will participate in the 26th national championship.
-How will you choose 6 teams of 17?
-By the qualifying tournament.
-Will first league teams also receive funding?
-After the end of qualifying tournament, only 6 teams which will continue fight for making through to super league, will receive funding. Each of the clubs will receive the sum of 40 to 47 000 gel.
