Until the end of the Finland Championship remains one round. If “Inter” of Irakli Sirbiladze fought for the title of champion last year, now occupies 9th place. 31-year-old forward scored 17 goals last year, and in the current season he has 9 goals.
"World Sport" contacted Sirbiladze in Finland:
- How would you rate your game this season?
- Due to a number of reasons, we have turned out to be not such a good season as it was last year. Core of the team has gone and besides two players, the club has not added anybody yet. Young was transferred mostly from the reserve and this affected on the result. As for my game personally, I scored 9 goals and I thinks this is not bad.
- When your contract expires with “Inter and do you have any offers?
- My season ends at the end of October. I have no any real proposals from abroad, but I have from Finland. “Inter” wants to sign a new contract with me. Maybe I stay. I have not decided yet. I have time to think about it.
- Did the Georgian clubs showed interest in you? And if it were, would you come to Georgia?
- I have not received any offers from Georgia, but if it was, I am not going to play there. I have no desire to return to the Georgian Championship.
- Why?
-All the players are thinking about leaving Georgia somewhere. In my opinion, no one thinks to return unless there is absolutely necessary, that is, until the player can play abroad. Championship of Georgia does not develop and, except for a few clubs, all have financial problems. When a club would split up, no one knows.
- And was such precedent in Finland?
- During that time, as I am here, I have not heard such thing about the Premier and first League clubs. Maybe, not many teams have larger budgets, but it is a stable financial position. Here never delayed salary.
- In Finland, football is played in a dramatically different style from the Georgian Championship. Did you have any problems of adaptation?
- When I arrived, I had to start playing in the team of fourth League, but I very quickly moved to the second League, and then in the Super League and since then, I play very productively. I easily adapted to the local style.
- You held a few games for the national team, but after the match with Kazakhstan, you was not called up. The coach did not like your game?
- I don't know. Probably the coach would say it better. He decides to whom call, or not.
- Why do you think the team shows such a bad result?
- I think, we could show a better result and take third place. Guys were fighting in every game until the end, they were doing their best. Probably, there are some reasons. In many games there have been mistakes. I hope the team will show better result and be able to get out of the group. I believe that with this players we will achieved a good result.
-What kind of reaction followed in Finland after the victory over Georgia?
- Honestly, the Finns played better than us and deserved to win. They indicated that they did not count one goal. Before the match they were not thinking about victory, because they had a good idea about our national team. Before that we played a draw with France.
- In General, Finland is a country of winter sports, but how much attention is paid to football there? Did children love football there?
-Many people think that hockey is most loved in Finland. But that is not true. The interest is showed also on the matches of football Championship. Children also often play football. The State contributes the development of football.
- And what the fields are like?
- Problems with the fields do not exist here. It does not matter in which League team play, it has a good field. Equipment, food-all of this is here. And children's schools are also enough.
- In short, you are happy in Finland. Is there something that you don't like?
- Yes, of course I want more, I will not refuse to play in the best League. Probably if I had arrived 10 years ago, it would be quite different, but that’s ok, I am grateful to God for everything. What I don't like? Almost always is cold, but I am getting used to it.
... Here I would like to wish success to U-17 team in the Elite round. Nodar Akobia, first of all, is a good person and a strong specialist. I hope that his team will reach much, and I wish players of his team to get through the strong clubs.
... Also I wish all the best to the national team and Temur Ketsbaia. I would like to separately mention Zura Khizanishvili: he did everything he could and he has done a lot for the team. In my opinion, he has played a high level football and I wish many Georgians got in such clubs, where Zura Played. Khizanishvili is very good person. As for his decision about leaving the team, we must respect his decision. But I think that he could still play for the national team. I wish him success in the club’s career and personal life.
Ilia Nanobashvili
