Former head coach of “Guria” Lanchkhuti Roman Pokora talked about the period spent in Georgia. Of course he touched bad financial situation, which was in “Guria” during so many months.
- When I was training “Simurq”, the whole group of the Georgian players played there. Exactly old Caucasian connection helped me to find employment in Lanchkhuti. Leader of Guria region called me, I went there in order to negotiate, exchanged our views and received guarantees that the club will not have financial problems. I was appointed as a coach. Then “Guria” was in the 9th place.
- At Soviet time “Guria” has written its name forever in history – as the team of the smallest town, which has ever played in the Super League.
- Exactly. In 1987, “Guria” was trained by Mikhail Fomenko, and Ukrainian Viktor Khlus was the top scorer. And despite the fact that long time has been gone these persons remain as legends in Lanchkhuti. However, during that 4 months, I was training “Guria”, I have been in Lanchkhuti several times. The local stadium is under reconstruction and we host our opponents in Kobuleti. I lived in Poti, the club rented me flat, but I had to pay for it.
- Please tell us about it more concretely.
- “Guria” was financed from the city budget and that’s why the expenses was enough only for entry fee and the trip for the away matches. And if you take into account that the club did not earn anything, it is not surprising that the players had not been paid. However, I want to appraise apprentices, who, in spite of such force majeure situation played decently and if they did not strike and miss workouts, I am sure that “Guria” would be in the 3rd place.
- When you were in “Simurq”, 5 Ukrainian players played in the team. Have you had Ukrainian in “Guria”?
- I invited experienced defender Vitaly Shumeiko, who hold 4 matches in “Guria”, however when he understood that the club would not comply him the terms of agreement, he returned to Ukraine.
- I cannot believe that the talk is about that team, which is a point behind third placed “Dila”.
- The situation is really complicated. A month ago, the patience of the players and the coaching staff was filled. We have also asked other bodies to compel the leadership of the club liquidate the debt. I hope this issue will be resolved soon. It is not excluded that I return to Georgia, but in another club.
Ilia Nanobashvili