I lost childhood friends when the Russians waged war in Georgia so I understand why Ukrainian players cry when they score a goal
SAYS ZURAB KHIZANISHVILI
Watching the destruction of their homeland from afar, powerless and pining for news of family and friends.
Zurab Khizanishvili has witnessed the outpouring of emotions and anguish from Ukrainian footballers over the past month – and feels their pain.
The horrific images being broadcast around the world have dragged the former Rangers, Dundee and Blackburn defender’s mind back nearly 14 years.
He awoke one August morning in 2008 to live footage of Russia going to war in Georgia.
Fighting had started overnight in the disputed region of South Ossetia.
In the ensuing days, friends he’d known from school died in combat and he was terrified by the thought of Russian tanks advancing towards Tbilisi.
The city of Gori, only 50 miles away from where Khizanishvili’s parents and siblings live, was a scene of death and devastation.
So Khizanishvili’s heart goes out to the people of Ukraine while Premier League stars such as Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City and West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko plead for peace and drum up support from the football family.
But he knows, for those players, the plight of being helpless at a distance and the horrors at home are much worse than he endured.
Ultimately his parents, sister and brother were safe in the Georgian capital after the war lasted just one week.
For Ukraine, there appears no hint of an end to the suffering.
Khizanishvili said: “I put on the TV one morning before training at Blackburn Rovers and couldn’t believe what was happening in my country.
“It was just crazy. The feeling was like nothing else.
“From the bottom of my heart, after what we went through, I say to Zinchenko and other players that I understand absolutely.
“What they are trying to say, why they cry when they score a goal, everything.
“I never thought, after all these years, I would ever see these things again in the world.
“I lost childhood friends, two of them in the army. One was found in the forest a month after the fighting stopped, he had been shot.
“Blackburn were very supportive. I tried to go to Georgia.
“With my mum and dad, my brothers and friends there I felt it was impossible for me to sit at home and watch the TV. But they said I couldn’t. After one week I tried to fly but there was still danger for planes in the air.
“When I eventually did get to Tbilisi, it was a relief to be home and see everyone.
“But Ukraine is very different. We had just five days of war then it was finished.
“The Russians didn’t come to Tbilisi, they stopped maybe 30- 40 miles away.
“In Ukraine, it’s one month already, it’s a much bigger conflict and no one knows when it’s going to stop.”
As Ukraine defends itself against Vladimir Putin’s forces, the nation’s bid to reach the World Cup Finals via a play-off in Scotland is on hold.
Back in 2008, only days after a ceasefire was brokered, Georgia’s footballers played on.
Tensions in the region remained high as several home- based players took a risky 20-hour bus journey to Azerbaijan to secure visas and head for the UK.
Hector Cuper’s squad fulfilled a friendly against Wales and, with Khizanishvili in the team, won 2-1. For Khizanishvili, capped 92 times, it was a powerful statement.
He said: “Most people said ‘yes’ to playing, others said it wasn’t time for football. But I think the right decision was to play.
“We showed people we wanted
peace. We’re footballers but can all try something in our small way.
“We gave a little bit of good emotion for Georgian people and supporters at a really difficult time.”
Khizanishvili, 40, is now assistant to former French international Willy Sagnol with the Georgian national side.
They beat Bosnia 1- 0 on Friday and face Albania in another friendly on Tuesday night.
He says earning his coaching stripes under Sagnol is a superb experience, part of a journey that began early in his career as a versatile defender at Ibrox.
He joined Rangers in 2003 from
Dundee, playing two seasons for Alex McLeish and helping them towards the Helicopter
Sunday title in 2005.
He said: “McLeish made up my mind to think about coaching. It was the way he talked with his players. He was close with everyone.
“And, as leader, you must be someone players trust on and off the pitch. Support from your head coach is vital, especially for young players who might be nervous. That was fantastic at Rangers.”
Khizanishvili and Mikel Arteta became close friends as young Ibrox stars so he’s thrilled the Spaniard is enjoying a fruitful season at Arsenal.
Arteta has guided the Gunners back into the Champions League places down south.
And Zurab said: “I’m so happy for Mikel because it was a hard start.
“I like people who never give up and Mikel is such a strong guy. As a player he had such skill in both feet but didn’t look as strong as a 6ft- plus guy. But going into a 50- 50 tackle, he was really tough. “Mikel got great experience from working with Pep Guardiola. He has some similarities with Pep but I respect how Mikel has his own philosophy with Arsenal.”
I never thought after all these years I’d see these things again in the world