He is just 20 years old. He was 16 when he played in the national team for the first time. Many fans were going to the stadiums just to watch his play.

“If Kenia was in the team again”, “Kenia is a great loss for the team”… you can often hear such conversations. 18 months have passed since October 2009. Levan Kenia has not played for one year and half. He has ankle injury and perhaps, he will start playing in October-November.

Three operations on ankle – many players could not have born so much and they would have given up playing. Levan thought about it but his parents did not let him do it.

Last time, Midfielder of “Schalke” was operated on March 2.

We contacted Kenia in Germany and talked about success of “Schalke” in Champions League, Spanish legend Raul and the last match of Georgia:

They made me start training early!

- First of all, let us talk about your health. You were operated one month and half ago. How do you feel now?

- The situation is hopeful. I am going to the pool. It is early to think about playing yet.

- What do doctors say?

- New doctor came to “Schalke”. He examined and told me that such injury is common among players and it can be cured.

- If everything goes well when will you start training?

- First of all, I should not hurry. I have not played for one year and half. Perhaps, I will be able to train in August-September and to play in October-November.

- What was the reason of such injury? What did the doctor say?

- When I was operated in last summer I started training early. The doctor said that is happened because of not good rehabilitation. I made a great mistake. I should have started training.

- Was it your mistake?

- Mine too. I should have believed coach because I felt that I was not ready yet. Now, I know it and I will not make the same mistake again.

- This January, you were training with the team in Turkey and your ankle got worse…

- I was not ready and that is why. While training in Turkey I felt like I was running with heels. When I could not bear pain anymore I said that I could not train. My ankle looked awful. 4 parts of it were injured.

- Are you disappointed? Welsh Gareth Bale is just 21 years old but he did not play for 2 years and half. Now, everyone can see how he plays…

- I hope for the same. Thanks god, my parents did not let me give up playing.

My parents did not let me give up football

- Who cheers you up most of all?

- Mother and father. If not they I would have arrived in Tbilisi. Of course, others cheer me up too. For example, uncle, relatives and my girlfriend. She is not Georgian. Anyway, my parents support me most.

- Do you feel support from “Schalke” players?

- No, it is not Georgia… Only two injured players remember about themselves. Christian Pander, left defender of “Schalke”, had a bad injury. He played in German national football team. He believes that he will play on high level. Pander always has injuries. I feel sorry for him. If you are not lucky you cannot succeed.

- Let us talk about success of “Schalke” – the club is in the semifinal of Champions League. How does the team expect the match against “Manchester United”?

- The worst suffering for me is that I cannot participate in such matches. If we were not in Champions League I could bear it. “Schalke” was not considered as favorite against “Valencia” or “Inter” but the team beat both of them. Now, they are looking forward to the semifinal. In short, it is semifinal and everything can happen.

Just, Raul…

- Ralf Rangnick is appointed as a head coach of “Schalke”. Have you met him?

- Yes, I have. When Rangnick came to the team we all were at the meeting. He seems to be a good man.

- Are fans of “Schalke” happy with his come?

- Yes, they are. He is an intelligent man and knows how to communicate with players and fans. Those players who were in reserve team played against “Inter”. I have not seen such playing of “Schalke” before. I was watching and wondering if this was the same “Schalke”?

- What can you say about Raul?

- He is a pleasant person. He is the same what you watch on TV.

- People say that he never refuses to give autographs and wears such clothes that you cannot say he is a start and has much money. Is that true?

- Yes, that is true. I have communicated with him only for two weeks when I was in Turkey.

I wish I could have seen face of Rakitic

- Do you attend matches at the stadium?

- No, I cannot. I cannot bear to watch it at the stadium. I was taken to stadium by force when we played against “Inter”. I attended only the first half and then continued watching it at home.

- I can imagine what you felt when Georgian national team played against Croatia.

- When our team plays I have “VIP-seats” in my room and support our boys from there. When we scored goal I fell from chair. When the match was over I wish I could have seen face of Ivan Rakitic. He played for “Schalke” with me and always told me that they could have won both matches. They were always boasting.

- It is natural that most of all you are disappointed that you miss matches of Georgian national team…

- That is true. I want to start playing as soon as possible but I know that it cannot not be done till October-November. I was so sad when we lost against Israel. We could have played draw but… I like playing of our team and result is obvious. It is not excluded that we can get in playoff.

Ilia Nanobashvili