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Representing the FBK team, the Georgian goalkeeper has made a good impression since the beginning of the season. The 26-year-old goalkeeper plays reliably.
During the NFKA "Stars Day," he was selected as the best footballer of the "Legionnaires" team and received the prize for the best player of the LFF Cup tournament final.
However, in July, G. Kvaratskhelia was briefly released from "Kaunas" due to a conflict with the then team coach from Russia, Aleksandr Piskariov.
"If it wasn't for the owner of "Kaunas", Vladimir Romanovas, I wouldn't be in Lithuania," G. Kvaratskhelia admitted in an interview with the newspaper "Kauno diena."
Lithuanian championship stronger than Georgia
- How was your career before coming to Lithuania?
- I signed my first contract with the Tbilisi Dynamo club when I was sixteen. I was very happy because this team is the pride of Georgian football. Later, I moved to Latvia, played for the Riga "Skonto" team, returned to my homeland, and put on the Tbilisi "Tbilisi" jersey. From the latter team, I came to "Kaunas."
- Did your new teammates in the team greet you friendly?
- Before the season, I participated in a training camp in Antalya with "Kaunas." I immediately adapted to the team, it felt like I had been playing in "Kaunas" all my life. Everyone greeted me warmly.
- What impression did you have of the Lithuanian Football A League championship? Is it of a higher level than Georgia?
- The Lithuanian championships are of a higher level, all the teams in them fight until the end. If you are not well prepared physically, you cannot play in the A League. Football in Georgia is completely different, more technical.
- Who would you choose as the best player in the Lithuanian championship?
- Easy question. Mantas Savėnas, the captain of Panevėžio "Ekrano."
Conflict with A. Piskariov
- This year, "Kaunas" players did not retain the title of Lithuanian champions. Why? Is "Ekranas" really stronger?
- I think our team is not weaker than "Ekranas." We prepared incorrectly for the championships; we woke up only at the end of the season when lagging behind the Panevėžys team by 10 points. "Ekranas" is a great team, and I sincerely congratulate them. I like both the team and its coach. It feels like "Ekranas" is a friendly team.
- This year, "Kaunas" was coached by Valdas Ivanauskas, Aleksandras Piskariovas, and Igoris Pankratjevas. How different are their coaching styles and communication with players?
- V. Ivanauskas and I. Pankratjevas have a slightly similar work style. They know how to communicate friendly with the players. A. Piskariov was quite different, he did not have the touch of a pedagogue. "What kind of player are you," he used to say. I didn't like A. Piskariov's football philosophy.
- What conflict occurred this summer between you and A. Piskariov?
- It was my fault. You are supposed to do what the coach says. But I couldn't control myself. When the coach said something bad to me, I responded in the same way. Now I think I acted inappropriately. If it wasn't for "Kaunas" owner Vladimir Romanovas, I wouldn't be here. V. Romanovas kept me in Kaunas.
- What did you do when you were not playing in "Kaunas" temporarily?
- I want to thank the club's deputy director of sports, Shender Giršovičius, who trained me individually. It helped me a lot.
Tasted both cepelinai and šaltibarščiai
- How do you feel in Lithuania? What do you like and dislike in our country?
- I don't like that you have to drink beer after every match. I can't do it anymore, I drank so much beer. Of course, I'm joking... I like everything in Lithuania. I tried Lithuanian dishes, I liked cepelinai, šaltibarščiai. A teammate Andrius Velička introduced me to these dishes.
- Did you become closest with A. Velička from the Kaunas players?
- Yes, I am very close to him. Also with Darius Sanayev.
- What do you usually do in your free time?
- During the season, I usually stay at home, relax, watch TV. I rarely go to discos. I've been to Kaunas clubs "Metelica," "Zeppelins."
- This season, there are many Georgians playing in Lithuanian teams. Do you communicate with all of them?
- Marijampolė "Sūduva" represented by brothers Davit and Besik Chigladze are younger than me, but we lived nearby, grew up together. That's why I have a very close relationship with them. With Vilnius "Vėtra" goalkeeper Mirza Merlani, I knew him from Georgia, while I didn't know Nukri Mankavos and Akaki Chubutiya before, we met only in Lithuania.
Understands quite a bit of Lithuanian
- This year, the National Football Clubs Association (NFKA) in Lithuania organized the football "Stars Day" for the first time. What impression did this celebration leave?
- It was great, I really enjoyed this football show. Such events are very necessary, they should be organized every year because "Stars Day" popularizes football, attracts viewers.
- Not married yet? Do you like Lithuanian girls?
- I am still single. Lithuanian girls are really beautiful. Did I find a girlfriend in Kaunas? No, right now I only think about football. If I find a wife, I know that football will be over.
- What can you say in Lithuanian?
- Good, thank you, beautiful girl, good weather, everything. I understand much more than I can say.
- Will you play for "Kaunas" next season?
- My contract with the club is valid for another season. I will gladly stay in "Kaunas." Well, unless I am invited to a higher league.
