From ManCity to GC – and now leaders

The word of the Deputy, sitting at the very front. The man with a suit and tie has files and a microphone. The debate around the rights of children, their protection and the importance of sport. And that's why these politicians will turn on now with a claim to the government. At the schools, he says, it need a better infrastructure, more gyms, he wants investment in new fitness center and swimming pools, "for the development of children is urgently needed".

He doesn't need to be loud, to find attention. He is Mikhail Kawelaschwili. And him you do not know, since he moved in 2016 to Parliament. He was once footballer , national team player and working abroad. Who creates the, in the country is automatically a celebrity.

"I'm a Zürcher"

As Kawelaschwili finished talking, he gets up, leaves the room and runs for a few minutes back in his office. Breathe. "So now," says the 47-Year-old, and acts quite happy. He has taken a long meeting table, in the Background are two flags in a holder, one of Georgia, one of the EU, and the image stuck: how Kawelaschwili receives people here, in front of the flags, hands shaking and the cameras with a smile.

Kawelaschwili, the politicians in the first series. Chairman of the Department of youth and sports of Georgia, elected until 2020. What a career. What a transformation.

Kawelaschwili is a communicative person, and those who know him from the past, would say: He has become communicative – in Switzerland, he was as a footballer, rather silent and closed. He came in 1997 from Manchester City to GC, and two years later, he moved on the tracks to FC Zurich. Adliswil and Horgen were the places of his living, he loved the city, and says today, with a fine Smile: "I'm a Zürcher." And who wants to be speaks English. Sometimes he scatters a dialect expression, such as "bitzeli".

He is amazed by the Chauffeur

With a GC, he was the 1998 champion with FC Zurich in 2000 to win the Cup; the GC of that time was characterized by strong individualists, the FCZ had for him something more Familiar. When he saw for the first Time in Zurich and an assistant coach Urs schönenberger behind the wheel of the team bus, sitting, he couldn't believe his eyes. One of the coaches as a Chauffeur? "Where is there such a thing?", he says and laughs out loud.

at All the times. He has statements present results, as a Reporter, he can retell when and where he achieved his many hits. Only he has a Problem: the majority Of it has no TV-images. "Can I claim my 17-year-old son still so much that I often met: He doesn't believe me, if he sees it himself," says Kawelaschwili.

in 2006, he believed, the trainer profession would be something for him. Behind him the years were as a professional, in foreign countries, especially in Switzerland. According to GC and FCZ, he moved to Lucerne, next to Sion, he was in Aarau, Switzerland and in Basel, as the Trainer was there, even Christian Gross. In Tenero, he completed a training course and acquired his first trainer diploma.

pictures: football in Georgia

at the same time, the need, the responsibility grew up in Kawelaschwili in his homeland in the South Caucasus. As he had no political office, did not hold back his judgment and pointed to maladministration. He dared to say what occurred to him as to the policy of President Mikhail Saakashvili miss. Friends had warned him: "caution, Kawa, you need to have your brakes, otherwise it will be dangerous for you." But has it never: "I don't work. I'm not afraid to Express myself."

2012 was the party, Alliance of Georgian dream, initiated by the hard-to-rich entrepreneur Bidzina Ivanishvili, with the goal to overthrow Saakashvili, and also reached. The grouping included prominent names, including famous footballer as Kacha Kaladse, Lewan Kobiaschwili or Mikhail Kawelaschwili. Kaladse, from 2001 to 2010 defender at Milan, is now the mayor of Tbilisi; Kobiaschwili, 16 years in the League, with 100 countries record national player and in October 2015, the President of the football Association; and Kawelaschwili completed for Georgia in 45 games.

"We have a lot of what Switzerland has also"

As a politician, he stands for democracy, for freedom of expression, and be of special concern to the promotion of youth. He also advertises for Georgia, for tourists to discover the beauties. "We have a lot of what Switzerland has also: mountains, lakes, nature, good wine, beautiful cities," he says, "for us, the sun shines very often. And the people are positive, open, warm-hearted, hospitable, even if many of them have a lot of. This is perhaps one of the differences to the Swiss, who sometimes find problems where it has not."

Kawelaschwili Stayed with all the political devotion of a passionate footballer. As the world Cup of delivery in Russia, he was an expert on national television and is a specialist when it came to Switzerland. "Also a Fan", he adds, "for me, this team is probably the best in the history of Switzerland." Well he is informed about everything that happens in the Super League. Thanks to the Internet, thanks to friends who send him messages.

Hope on the audience

Tomorrow, Saturday, but Kawelaschwili is all Georgians, if his people will receive the Start in the Euro qualifiers 2020, Switzerland. He hopes that in the Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, an atmosphere will prevail, the power of the opponent "a little impression". High Georgia did not have the level of the Swiss, the selection of good players is still too low. But he believes that will change, because of the Association of new forces. "Kobiaschwili and Vice-President Alexander Iaschwili already a lot has happened," he says, "and it will do very much."

He has support, when he is asked for advice. Otherwise, he is in charge of political Affairs. He is not a Public man, only, if in Parliament is being debated. "If it's out there comes to a little accident, and I happened to be in the vicinity," he says, pointing to the road, "then the two drivers come up to me and say: How do we solve this now?"

Kawelaschwili don't mind. It is what it is in the new life of the former footballer. (Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 22.03.2019, 12:06 PM