Georgian PM lauds “great spirit and desire of win” of national football team

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday highlighted the “historic victory” of the national football team over Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday in their final group stage match at the ongoing European Championship in Germany, by saying the Georgian players “have a great spirit and desire to win in the next game with Spain on Sunday as well”.

He also emphasised that the national football players did “not need any additional motivation”, however, the support shown by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was “very important and valuable”, who had earlier promised a reward of ₾30 million ($11 million) for the team’s achievement and pledged the same reward for the Georgian football team in case of their win in the upcoming match against Spain in the round of 16.

[...] the team has already received the first 30 million [$ 11 million], which was set for qualifying from group F, and when we [the Government members] met with the team’s players [in Germany], we reminded them that the next game is also related to such a reward, and this will create much more motivation”, he added.

The head of the Government also expressed his confidence in the team's ability to go for a victory against Spain in the playoff round fixture, adding the Georgian players “proved that they can play against any opponent”.

Kobakhidze also said that at a forum dedicated to Diaspora Day held on Thursday, an award was given to the Georgian national team and Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as a compatriot living abroad, for his special activities and fame earned for the country.