Today Igor Kokoskov, head coach of the Georgia national basketball team, who is paying a 4-day visit to Tbilisi, held a press conference at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Assistant coach Kote Tugushi and Vladimer Boisa, one of the vice-presidents of the Georgian Basketball Federation, also attended the press conference.

During his visit, Kokoskov attended “All-Star” in “Tbilisi Mall”, met candidates of the national team and attended one of the practices of the Georgian U-20 team which is coached by one of his assistants Davit Ustiashvili.

Igor Kokoskov will depart from Tbilisi on February 3.

The 2015 EuroBasket will take place in several countries. 4-4 teams of each group will gather in France. Georgia will play in Zagreb (Croatia) where the Georgians will face Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Macedonia and Netherlands.

Igor Kokoskov: “Hello everybody. I trust my assistants 100 per cent. I am in touch with representatives of the federation and I do not think I need to arrive in Georgia in the middle of the season. I do not like “All-Star” but I was pleasantly surprised with “All-Star” which was held in “Tbilisi Mall”. I met candidates of the national team and attended one of the practices of U-20 team. There are some good players in the U-20 team. If they work hard, they can play great basketball.

In spite of that my visit has not finished yet, I can say it was very productive.

We are in touch with the team candidates who play in foreign clubs. I wish them successful season in order to be ready for the final tournament of 2015 EuroBasket.

We will start preparation for the final tournament in Slovenia on July 24. Before that the team candidates will gather in Tbilisi.

Our team is one family. We do not expect big changes in the team. However, nothing is excluded because 5 months are remaining till the meeting. Someone may show up and play for the national team.

After his speech Kokoskov answered some questions of the journalists.

- Are you going to pay the same visit to Tbilisi in the future?

- I have already noted I trust my assistants 100 per cent. I do not think my visits in Tbilisi will change anything. I am going to attend Euroleague final games. Hopefully, the Georgian basketball players will play there.

- Are you in touch with team candidate Ricky Hickman?

- I have a good relationship with Hickman and we often talk to each other. I am departing for Turkey and I will meet Hickman.

- Do you think our team will overcome the group stage?

- It is tough to hold 5 games in 6 days. If we want to advance, we must neat Netherlands.

- Are you planning to have Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Lasha Gamkrelidze back in the national team?

- Anyone who will carry out his duties which the national team needs, I will not be against.

I want to note that the national team needs players, not names.”

Kote Tugushi and Vladimer Boisa also made comments.

Kote Tugushi: “Unlike the previous years, the role of the Georgian national championship has increased. Some members and candidates of the national team are playing in the national championship.

- Are there new candidates?

- No, there are not. Kokoskov met about 20 basketball players who have been in the expanded composition before.”

Vladimer Boisa: “We will participate in some interesting tournaments in order to be ready for the 2015 EuroBasket. We will compete in Tbilisi Cup on August 14-16. Also, we will play France and Belgium on August 20 and 21. We will face Italy and Russia on August 28, 29 and 30. The third team will be found out soon.

- How do you estimate our chances in Zagreb?

- If nothing unforeseen happens, our team can beat Netherlands and Macedonia. Two wins are enough for making through to the next round.