Zhordania promotes pair
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Article summary
There are two newcomers in Merab Zhordania's Georgia squad for the qualifying matches against Albania.
Article body
Two newcomers
FC WIT Georgia Tbilisi's 20-year-old goalkeeper Mirza Merlani and midfield player Levan Magradze from Cypriot club AEL Limassol FC are the two new players picked for the Group 10 qualifiers in Tbilisi on Saturday and in Tirana four days later.
Advice to coach
Magradze was selected on the advice of Anorthosis Famagusta FC's former Georgian international Temur Ketsbaia, who is one of Zhordania's assistants.
Wins vital
Currently fifth and bottom of Group 10, Georgia must win both games this week and hope other results go their way to retain any hope of reaching the play-offs, although their campaign has already brought an impressive win against Russia.
Temporary move
Georgian Football Federation president Zhordania took over last month for the rest of the qualifying tournament after coach Ivan Šušak stood down to concentrate on his duties with FC Dinamo Tbilisi.
Georgia squad
Lomaia, Gvaramadze, Merlani, Amisulashvili, Shashiashvili, Kemoklidze, Khizanishvili, Didava, Daraselia, Burduli, Kvirkvelia, Kinkladze, Kobiashvili, Jamarauli, Asatiani, Rekhviashvili, Korgalidze, Gakhokidze, Nemsadze, Magradze, Ashvetia, Iashvili, Demetradze, Arveladze.
