Mamuka Gorgodze, 3rd liner of Georgian rugby national team, will join “Toulonnais” next season. He personally met the president of the club, agreed the details of contract and he will sign officially in February.
29-year-old Georgian, was very close to join “Toulonnais” several years ago. He had signed the contract with this club, but then “Montpellier” did everything to vindicate Gorgodze – they even did not beware to pay fine. Despite this, Mourad Boudjellal, president of “Toulonnais”, forgot old mortifications and added another star to the stellar composition.
“World Sport” contacted Mamuka Gorgodze in France and first of all interested in his health condition. You will probably remember, that Mamuka missed the start of the season due to his leg trauma and he returned just now, in the match against “Treviso” at “Heineken Cup”.
- The season started just now for you. Georgian fans, before the November tests, are most interested in what condition is Mamuka Gorgodze after his trauma?
- It was really serious trauma and I was not able to practice actively for 10 weeks. You have to add the break between seasons and totally I have not played for 5 months. I am not fully recovered yet, but I have already held the first match against “Treviso”. To tell the truth, I did not expect me to play whole game. I spent 70 minutes on the field, but I was not worthy of expel in that last 10 minutes.
- Will you play in the next match?
- We have a lot of injured players and that’s why I will play in the main lineup against “Ulster” Ireland.
- Montpellier” is focused on “Heineken Cup” or on French Championship this year?
- We started well Championship this year, with it we are missing players of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia and soon they will also join us. Accent is made more on Championship, and “Heineken Cup” we kept as a dessert. Let’s see, how things will develop and if everything goes well, we will fight for it too.
- Georgian national team awaits important test-matches in November. Are you ready for this?
- We expect the most complicated matches. This year started so, that everyone including me, is injured. I hope, that I will be in optimal form, but it will be very difficult. No matter how much you practice, the rhythm of the game is different. I always do my best and if these matches ends with desirable results it will be good.
- Canada, America and Samoa are our opponents...
- I have never played against these teams, but what I know is that they are opponents who we should take into consideration. We do not have such opponents at “Nations Cup”. Canada and United States are stronger teams than Russia and Romania. And as for Samoa, the best teams also find difficult to play against them. It is rude team, which uses their minds last time and they are very strong. Winning over them would be the most difficult for us.
- Will Mamuka Gorgodze be a rugby player of “Toulonnais”?
- After a long negotiations, it was decided so. I had many offers, 2+1 from “Clermont”, 4-year contract from “Perpignan”, and as for “Montpellier”, they advised me to wait, but I decided to act and agreed orally with “Toulonnais”.
- The president of “Toulonnais” is still Boudjellal, to whom you had trial...
- I met Boudjellal personally and he has not directed his attention to old cases. Everything happens and I know that the team made maximum for you not to leave. Supposedly, I will sign 3+1 contract with “Toulonnais” in February and start new season there.
Zura Ksovreli
