On July 3 at 21:00 “Sioni” Bolnisi will host “Flamurtari” Vlore of Albania at “Mikheil Meskhi”. It is the first match of Europa League first qualifying round. The second leg will be held on July 10.
Today head coaches of “Sioni” and “Flamurtari” held press conferences:
Ernest Gjoka (head coach of “Flamurtari”): - I am in Georgia for the first time. I have only positive impressions. It is a beautiful city. We are planning how to play. The rest will be shown tomorrow evening.
- What do you expect from the match?
- We took the 7th place at the championship and won Cup. The club has a new Turkish owner who has ambitious plans. We will try to play well at European tournaments.
Lado Burduli (general director and head coach of “Sioni”): - We held a preparation period. It is not time to complain and we will try to win the first match with handicap. I wish lots of fans came to the stadium and supported us. As for the opponent, “Flamurtari” was the most desired opponent but it does not mean that we are already through. We must be completely concentrated. In 2003 “Dinamo” Tbilisi beat “Tirana” of Albania 3:0 home and we lost 0:3 away. It is very tough to play in Albania.
- Perhaps, you watched videotape of the opponent’s match.
- We watched Cup final which “Flamurtari” won 1:0. My colleague did not state but I know they added Brazilian defender (Douglas) and Dutch forward (Nassir Maachi).
- There are a lot of football players in “Sioni” who have experience of playing at European tournaments. How important is this factor?
- This experience means a lot. We have football players over 30 who have nothing to lose.
- Do you have injured football players?
- Aleko Gogoberishvili is injured and he will not be able to play 90 per cent. If he has a little chance, Gogoberishvili will go to the field.
- Will he be in Albania?
- Yes, he will.
- In the previous season “Sioni” had problem with forward. Now?
- We were going to add Giorgi Kvilitaia and Bachana Arabuli but it failed. We added Vili Isiani who played for “Guria”. We believe in Jaba Ugulava and Giorgi Adamia.
- Has the financial situation improved in “Sioni”?
- Fortunately, company “Airzena” helped us. The company will send us to Albania by charter flight. I want to thank Tamaz Gaiashvili, president of “Airzena”. It is good that such people are interested in Georgian football. If we show 80 per cent of our possibilities, I believe, “Flamurtari” cannot stop us and we will go through the next round.
Dachi Popkhadze, right defender of “Sioni”, attended the press conference:
“We have watched the match of our opponent. It is better club than I expected. We will do our best to show positive result and we can do it”.
“Sioni” made through to European tournaments after 8-year break. 8 years ago “Sioni” beat “Baku” of Azerbaijan (2:0, 0:1) at Champions League second qualifying round but then lost to “Levski” of Bulgaria (0:2, 0:2).
If “Sioni” ousts “Flamurtari”, it will play “Petrolul” of Romania at the second round.
Ilia Nanobashvili
