"There is a perfect atmosphere for development in Locomotive"

It has been 4 months since Nodar Qavtaradze is a player of Locomotive. 24 years old midfielder was added to our team as a free agent  in January 2017.

Qavtaradze has built his career in Russia and at different times he has played in the 2^nd and 3^rd divisions. Locomotive Moscow developed him as a footballer and his professional career  has begun in this club as well. Then there also were Tyumen, Volga Tver and Druzhba Maykop.

Qavtaradze was born in Sokhumi. From this city he moved to Tbilisi with his family and had been living in the capital city of Georgia until he was 6. Next it was Moscow, where he spent 16 years.

In an interview with Locomotive website, Qavtaradze talks about the environment in the team, the times spent in Moscow, the level of Erovnuli Liga, living in Georgia and many other interesting issues.

It has been almost 4 months since you are a footballer of Locomotive Tbilisi. How did you get along with the team and the atmosphere?

From the very first day, the boys made me feel like I am a member of full value in the team. I was accepted very warmly by everyone in the team and during this period I already managed to have close contact with them.

As for getting along with the championship, initial rounds turned out to be enough. It is the first time I have played in Georgia and I am interested in every detail, which team is stronger, how do supporters behave at the stadium and etc.

How  was your expectations about the championship of Georgia, did you expect stronger league or vice versa?

Before the arrival, I expected in Georgia to be a good and at the same time hard championship, although some people used to tell me about this on the contrary.

What I have seen and played, it is tensed and difficult championship. Nobody knows which team is going to win over another. Before the beginning of the championship, I used to say that in tensed matches like these, staying stable would be decisive and I still have not changed my mind. Whoever plays stable, they are going to be champions.

What do you consider as a main minus of the championship?

Infrastructure. This is the main problem in the championship of Georgia. I have often played on artificial field in Russia as well. Certainly, you cannot have the same conditions everywhere.

For a footballer a good base and a field are of primary importance. When you see a stadium, base, changing room in poor conditions, this changes your mood and breaks your motivation. As I know, the stadiums are being built in Batumi and Zugdidi, also new stadium is going to be built in Samtredia. In these cities, it is necessary to be high quality infrastructure.

From this point of view as well, I like everything in Locomotive. The club has a nice base and all the favorable conditions to fight for big targets. Also, every member of the team and the staff are trying their best for the footballers to make progress. There is a perfect atmosphere here for development.

You have played in the second and the third division by rank in Russia. How do you think, what distinguishes Georgian footballer from Russians?

What I have seen in this period so far, is enough to say that Georgian footballers are really talented. As I watch 18-19 years old footballers, sometimes I feel surprised, how can they be so technical.

However, unfortunately, we cannot reach our big goals only for being talented. We are less devoted hard-workers than Russian footballers are actually. If we fix this fault, we will show much higher level in game.

What is the most important thing you have gained by playing in the championship of Russia?

I signed my first professional contract with Locomotive Moscow and used to play in the second team. Totally, I have played for 5 years in Russia, in the first and second division.

I have learnt many things while being there, the most important one probably is hard-working and discipline. Without these showing high level in a game is impossible. Besides this, swiftness is my one of my advantages. I gained all these characteristics in Russia.

What can you say about the head coach? Was it easy to put up with his requirements?

I was informed about Giorgi Devdariani while playing in Russia. I knew that he was a coach of the adult clubs in Georgia and reached good results with these teams. I also knew that Giorgi Chanturia, Vako Kazaishvili, Davit Khocholava and many other footballers were trained by him.

Everything mentioned says a lot about him and I am glad I have an opportunity to work with Devdariani. It is pleasant to play in the team, which aims at controlling the ball and attacking the rivals. I feel to be trusted by the coach and this is the most significant. Nothing is more important than this for a footballer.

You have lived for 16 years in Moscow. Was it hard for you to get used to living in Tbilisi?

I like everything here. I am really happy to be and live in Tbilisi. The weather, people, environment, everything is enjoyable.

I have lived for 16 years in Moscow and it was not easy to move to other city, although I don’t have any depression, everything is on the contrary, everything is wonderful here.

My family members live in Moscow but I have relatives and close people here, who I often meet and try to spend much time with them.

Many Georgian footballers play In Premier League of Russia and in the first division. Have you ever been in touch with them and who do you have the closest  contact with?

I have had the closest contact with Giorgi Jiqia. Now he plays in Spartak Moscow. We still keep in touch, we congratulate each other on good game and victory.

Giorgi is a high level player already and he reached everything with his hard-working nature. He has quite good humor, he is a very positive person and the most important for a footballer – he is confident.

He says that he has never met a footballer who could cheat him, but he knows that there is one who often cheated him. We often played together and I always outclassed him in swiftness.