PalitraNews.ge journalist Tsotne Shaorshadze spoke about the work of the Georgian Football Federation under the leadership of Levan Kobiashvili, who has been heading the organization since October 2015.
Levan Kobiashvili"In 2015, the federation faced the need for radical changes. The national team did not show results, and the championship lacked teams that could create the internal competition necessary for mutual development and success in the international arena. Georgian football was at a low level.
Kobiashvili decided to take over the leadership of the federation together with his younger colleagues and help Georgian football. The federation simply realized that without investment and a long-term plan, it would be difficult to make progress.
The plan presented by the management consisted of several key components, including the development of children's and youth football, infrastructure projects, mass popularization of football, women's football, futsal, and reform of the national championship.
This project was based on research that identified the main challenges of Georgian football - UEFA representatives were also actively involved. Fortunately, the current situation cannot even be compared to the situation in 2015. In my opinion, the success of the national team is largely due to this management.
Kobiashvili has had an outstanding career as a footballer, which makes him a popular figure among fans. After his election, there were high expectations that his professional experience would have a positive impact on the governance of the football federation - and he is now considered one of the most visible figures, playing a key role in strategic decision-making and cooperation with international partners.
Although there was considerable criticism of Kobiashvili in the past, especially in the early stages, this has largely dissipated due to the success of the national team, which seems to have answered many questions. Today, the federation is actively working to popularize football across the country to make the sport more accessible to all age groups, especially young people.
Firstly, there is a strong emphasis on the development of grassroots football, which involves organizing tournaments and competitions for different age groups. School tournaments are regularly held, giving children the opportunity to play football from an early age. This contributes to the development of sports in both cities and regions where the football infrastructure was previously underdeveloped. The Federation strives to ensure that each region has its own academy or club where young people can participate in high-quality training programs.
The federation also actively uses social media platforms and other digital media to regularly share information about matches, tournaments and the national team," Shaorshadze said.
