I have read a lot of interviews of different football players of “Lokomotiv” Moscow where they name Malkhaz Asatiani as the best friend. They also do not forget his football skills.

“Asata” finished his career at the end of 2010. It was quite unexpected. The 29-year-old young player finished career unexpectedly and has not worked in football since then.

Asatiani is a quite modest person. He does not like giving interviews. Last year when I met him, he told me – “What I can tell you about me. There are many great Georgian football players than me…”.

“World Sport” has talked to Asatiani about a lot of things:

- What do you do now?

- Nothing interesting. I am travelling. Sometimes I am in Moscow, sometimes in Tbilisi, sometimes in Kutaisi.

- Business?

- Small business. It has no connection to football.

- I know you often meet the football players of your generation…

- These are just friendly meetings. Yet, I do not work in football. Let us see what will be in the future…

- Do you play football for fun?

- Yes, I try to be in form.

- Which match do you recall from your career as a good memory?

- There are plenty of them but I will name some: in 2002 “Torpedo” Kutaisi defeated “Dinamo” Tbilisi 1:0 in the last round of the Georgian Championship. I scored the only goal of the match. “Torpedo” became champion three times in a row. In Moscow when “Lokomotiv” became champion, is also a good memory. Of course, Georgia-Russia 1:0. We made the Georgian fans happy.

- 2:2 with Denmark?

- Of course (Asatiani scored goal and held a brilliant match – I.N).

- Alain Giresse coached the national team then. You were a central defender in “Lokomotiv”. Giresse said you were “Georgian Zidane”. Are you grateful to Giresse?

- It was a good period but I do not like distinguishing coaches.

- It is a task for everybody – how a creative midfielder turned into central defender. What did you feel when you were offered the position of defender in “Lokomotiv”?

- Neither “Lokomotiv” nor I had a choice. The Champions League match against “Monaco” was coming up. We lacked defender and they offered me this position. The coach liked my play and then I got used to this position.

- It was a big surprise for everyone when you finished career. Why did you make such decision?

- I was waiting for offers from the Russian Premier League clubs but there was no real one.

- There were some offers from the Georgian clubs. Did you refuse them?

- Yes, there were but I did not want it. Finally, I decided to finish career.

- Your native club “Torpedo” Kutaisi has a bad period. Perhaps, you are disappointed.

- Yes, I am but when nothing goes right, you kind of start getting used to it. It does not happen only in football. The same happens in other kinds of sport.

- Many will give you example of rugby.

- Rugby is in better situation but we are not at high level. We all know there is bigger competition in football. Rugby is not played in many countries. I think one-two person can do nothing in football. We must start from zero and be patient.

- For some reason the interest toward football is decreasing from year to year.

- Yes, it is. There are only 2-3 children’s schools in Tbilisi which work good. Children are casted away from football in regions. How can we develop in this way? Everybody knows this situation.

- I saw you on “Bendela” stadium where you were watching children playing…

- Yes, there is a church where my friends and I have a priest. I often go there when I am in Tbilisi.

- What can you say about a new generation?

- The Georgian children always had talent in football. I think this generation is more talented. The U-17 team made through to semifinal. The U-19 team was among the best 8 teams. I watched the matches of Vasil Maisuradze’s team and they are really good. The new generation has better results than we had then.

- Many of them cannot develop.

- The level of the Georgian Championship is low and that is why. How they can go abroad when nobody watches our championship. Crisis starts after the age of 17. It is tough to develop in our championship. This situation cannot improve in one or two years. We must start from zero. Finances and good management are necessary.

- Do you attend matches of the Russian Championship? There is a lot of money and does it raise the level of the championship?

- There is a lot of money but they cannot play well at European tournaments. None of the Russian clubs made through to semifinal in the last 5 years. You must prove your level at European tournaments.

- Serb Jovanovic, former player of “Lokomotiv” Moscow, says Asatiani was the best friend in the club and keeps in touch with you. Do you maintain relationship with others?

- Yes, I try. I have not phoned Jovanovic lately. I have a good relationship with former teammates.

- Who is your Georgian friend?

- Zviad Sturua, Sevasti Todua, Valeri Abramidze, Nukri Revishvili and so on…

- You played with Levan Kobiashvili in the national team. He is also a retired football player. How do you characterize Kobiashvili?

- I can say only positive things about him. When you hold so many matches in German Bundesliga, it means a lot.          

- Do you think about coaching?

- No, I do not know what will be tomorrow.

- Are you disappointed when you look back to your career?

- Of course but it is the past.

- On World Cup: we know you are a fan of Italy…

- Yes, I am. I think Brazil, Germany and Spain have more chance. It is important to watch many beautiful matches.

Ilia Nanobashvili