Handball has become popular in Georgia recently. Our national team played in the qualifying round of World Championship several months ago and managed to beat Finland, Turkey and Lithuania. Serbian head coach Djordje Rasic is working for the Georgian national team. He lives in Tbilisi and works for all age teams. Today we met Mr. Djordje and put him some questions. Veteran handball player Beka Orjonikidze helped us holding the dialogue.

- First of all, please, tell us about your playing and coaching career…

- I have won 14 titles. I have won Champions League twice with “Metaloplastika” Sabac, Yugoslav League seven times and Serbian Cup twice. Then, I became a coach and have worked for different teams and clubs for 22 years. First I worked for female teams. I have won 8 trophies with “Buducnost”. I also worked successfully for “Krusevac”. I have been coach of female handball players for 15 years. I helped “Asad” of Lebanon win Asian Champions Cup which was a sensation. “Tatran” of Slovakia won the country’s championship and cup twice. Then, I worked for “Volca” of Romania and “Ciudad Real” of Spain. I have worked for “Metaloplastika” for 4 years. I coached girls’ national and junior teams of Serbia, also boys’ teams. The girls’ junior team played at World and European Championships and the Mediterranean Games. I have brought up Bojana Popovic, one of the best handball players of the planet.

- Let us go on talking about Georgian handball. Under the guidance of you our national team won a right to participate in the qualifying round of World Championship. How do you summarize the play of the Georgian national team?

- We did our best in this situation. If we had had more time for the preparation, we would have achieved more. There are two veterans Sergo Datukishvili and Giorgi Gvazava in the team. Revaz Chanturia is in his thirties. We must form a new team. So, we start working from the age teams. We formed 3 groups: U-14-16, U-21 and U-21-30 teams. We have 4-5 good players in each team.

The Olympic team will created from U-16 players. The following players are the leaders of the team: Sandro (goalkeeper), Giorgi Dolmazashvili, Luka Gatserelia, Luka Bulbulashvili, Irakli Kbilashvili, Hasein Rostomov, Gusal Guseinov, Erekle Arsenishvili. 24-25 handball players are considered the leaders.

In U-18 team we have 3 good goalkeepers – Irakli Khidesheli, Joni Tsertsvadze, Zura Tsintsadze. Three players of U-18 team, Zurab Abramishvili, Teimuraz Orjonikidze, Zura Simonia, have already played for the national team. I would name Irakli Gogiladze and Aleksandre Tskhvarashvili from this team. There are other talented players who I believe in.

The young players must play with Vova Rusia, Irakli Chikovani, Rati Mskhvilidze, Akaki Talakhadze, Sergo Datukishvili, Ucha Gamzardia, Shota Tevzadze, Rezo Chanturia for the Georgian national team. We have a problem of the line players in the national team. It would be good if we bring a foreign player. A legionary must play at least a year at the Georgian Championship in order to get in the national team. For example, Dusanbaev has strengthened Spain. A foreign player will make the Georgian Championship more interesting. Matches must be held every week. I think the championship will become tougher. International matches are also required. We are taking U-16 team to Serbia. We will hold test matches there. We will work on tactic and technique. As for the matches, we will hold 3 ones against the Serbian national team, “Metaloplastika”, “Tsrvena Zvezda” and “Partizan”. It is better to play strong teams and lose but we will gain experience.   

- In your opinion, how must the Georgian handball develop?

- I have already answered that question. The championship matches must be held every weekend. TV channels and press must pay more attention to handball and make it popular. The clubs must be in better financial situation. Pupils must play handball at schools.

- What is the role of the government?

- The government must help teachers, clubs and arrange the infrastructure. For example, the Turkish Handball Federation has its own hall. In winter we cannot play 2-3 months because it is cold in the hall. The members of the Tbilisi clubs do not have salaries and you cannot demand a lot from such players. There is a lack of motivation…

- At the beginning of April U-20 team is departing for Spain to participate in the qualifying round of European Championship…

- We will face Spain, Montenegro and Norway. The host team is a favorite. We are planning to get in optimal form by the end of May. On May 20-26 Trophy-Cup will take place in Andorra. 8 teams will compete at it and we will play for victory.

The 2015 Olympic Festival is priority for us. My goal is to establish an efficient team. Yet, Zurab Kakabadze, president of the federation, and I have agreed on one-year collaboration.

Gocha Kacharava