Our society knows 43-year-old Dmitry Sanakoyev mostly from policy. His current position is head of the Provisional Administration of South Ossetia. But perhaps, many of you do not know that he has been president of football club “Spartak” Tskhinvali for 5 years. He played a key role that this team exists now. Tskhinvali is still considered as a part of Georgia on foreign sports editions and websites. Sanakoyev is an idealist. He often plays football with veterans. He is a real European at work. Dmitry often has traditional Georgian “supra” with friends. By the way, he is an interesting interlocutor. His “Spartak” left Supreme League last year. The team had problems but this year it plays well. The team has 43 points in 16 matches and is leading the tournament. Head coach Vladimer Khachidze formed a good team. There are many young players in the team. 27-year-old Zviad Metreveli is the eldest one. He played for “Dinamo” Tbilisi and “Sioni” Bolnisi. This year Metreveli scored 9 goals and is one goal behind 19-year-old Dato Gelashvili. 22-year-old captain Temur Shonia is the main player of the team. Goalkeeper Giorgi Nadiradze is 20 years old. 19-year-old Varlam Kilasonia is son of famous football player Giorgi Kilasonia. I started conversation with the president about the first circle.

-         You finished the autumn stage in the first place…

-         When we left Supreme League last year, many football players wanted to leave the team. I told the boys: Boys, we have been together for 5 years and it will not be right to go apart now. Fortunately, they stayed. They continued practicing and now we have the result. We have good team. We are leaders and we are preparing to return to the elite.

-         It is program minimum. Maximum?

-         Maximum is to get in Top 6 of Supreme League.

-         And even more maximum?

-          (laughs) No, we are not on such level yet to think about prize places and European Cup. There is a big competition. You know how “Dinamo” Tbilisi, “Dila” and “Torpedo” play. We have to work hard to reach that level.

-         Do you consider “Kolkheti” Khobi as the main opponent?

-         I think we do not have opponent. We lost in Khobi but it does not mean anything. There are good teams: “Shukura” Kobuleti, “Samtredia” and “Lokomotive” Tbilisi.

-         There is winter break at the championship now. When will you resume practicing?

-         We start on December 26. We will leave for Turkey for 12 days on February 5 or 6. Of course, we prefer Georgia but here are not good conditions. Last year we practiced in the snow in Bakuriani. Then we arrived in Tbilisi and here was snow too.

-         Are you going to add new players?

-         I do not know. We are holding negotiations with two players. We need to strengthen defence. Let us see.

-         Practicing base?

-         We practice on the field of football school “Bendela” on Vaja-Pshavela. We wanted to make base in Khashuri where children also could practice at the expense of the club. Before the war 2008, we practiced in Kurta. We built fields and started preparing children. But after the war we had to leave Kurta. The main thing is that we kept the name – “Spartak” Tskhinvali. We will add two players from Tskhinvali and Vladikavkaz. One – we transferred goalkeeper Alan Khaliev from “Alania”. The second one will join us while winter meeting. We want the players from these regions to play at Georgian Championship.

-         Are you still a head of Administration of South Ossetia?

-         I do not live in Tskhinvali but yes, I am (laughs). According to the order of the country’s president, administration of South Ossetia was formed and I am its head.

-         Is the team financed from the budget of the administration?

-         Yes, it is. But in my opinion, it is not right that the government finances the teams. It may become corruption. But when businessman invests money, he is interested not to waste money. Nowadays, collaboration of the government and business would be the best variant. I spend all money on football. But I cannot buy football player and give him such salary like players of “Dinamo” have. That is why, my team will also be behind “Dinamo”, “Torpedo” and “Zestafoni”. There are some players in our team who have salary more than 1000 GEL. Others have 600-800 GEL. In other teams players have 3 000 and even more.

-         Has administrational budget changed after coming a new government?

-         No, it is the same.

-         The new government is going to warm relationship with Russia. Are there any changes in your region?

-         No, nothing. People have hope to talk to Russians. I think while the Russian government is the same, nothing will change. There are Ossetian and Georgian people who have relatives and want to open borders. Nowadays, borders are open in the whole world and it is shame what is going on in Georgia.

Solomon Gulisashvili