Vets win prizes in Georgia

Model of consistency
Known as the Vets due to their owners - a company which imports veterinary supplies and makes pet food - WIT Georgia have been a model of consistency in recent seasons, producing a steady stream of classy young players and standing by coach Mumladze, who took charge in 2004. "The management never ask us to win the gold medals at any cost," said Mumladze.

'Great condition'
This time around, the team that played their first season in the top division in 1997/98 have been on excellent form and are second behind FC Dinamo Tbilisi after nine games. "We worked hard before season at a training camp in Ukraine," explained Mumladze. "We are in great condition with all of our most important players in fine form. All this give me hope that we can win gold medals."

Political situation
That would not be a first for WIT Georgia, who won the title in 2003/04, and finished as runners-up in 2004/05 and again last season. They earned a place in the UEFA Cup this season, knocking out FC Spartak Tnava in the first qualifying round before losing to FK Austria Wien in a tie which had to be decided over a single leg in Vienna due to the political situation in Georgia.

Change of scene
That result was a rare disappointment in what has been a positive season for WIT Georgia. Having previously played at the modest Armazi Stadium in Mtskheta, not far from Tbilisi, the club have moved to Gori this season while their old home is under reconstruction and have benefited from the change of venue and the opening of new training facilities, including two artificial pitches.

New generation
WIT Georgia have also been successful in launching a new crop of youngsters into the senior side, with Irakli Klimiashvili and Giga Bechvaia now among the club's top players despite only making their debuts in 2007. Klimiashvili is already a regular in the Georgian national team, while team-mates Luka Razmadze and Alexander Kvakhadze are battling for first-team places. "Before the season we lost Pawel Datunaishvili and Zaza Sakhokia but as always we gave our young talents a chance and they are already in the first XI," said Mumladze with pride. Not bad for a team who owe their survival to pet food.