Sport in Abkhazia
Encyclopedia
Sport in Abkhazia
plays an important cultural role.
during Soviet
times. The main club of the republic, FC Dinamo Sukhumi, played mostly in the lower leagues of Soviet football. However, Abkhazia produced several football talents who played in the top Georgian
team FC Dinamo Tbilisi
and in other Soviet teams. Natives of Abkhazia Vitaly Daraselia
, Nikita (Mkrtych) Simonian, Avtandil Gogoberidze
, Niyazbey Dzyapshipa, Giorgi Gavasheli, Temuri Ketsbaia
and Akhrik Tsveiba
were among the most prominent footballers of the Soviet Union.
Dinamo Sukhumi achieved their best result in 1991 finishing in 10th place in the first league (second tier of Soviet football). They were the only Georgian team to participate in the Soviet football system in 1990-1991 as other Georgian teams left for political reasons before the 1990 season. Several players of the 1990-1991 Dinamo Sukhumi squad including Sergei Ovchinnikov
and the Adzhindzhal brothers played later for Russian teams and achieved varying degrees of success, as did Oleg Dolmatov, Dinamo
's coach in 1990-1991.
After Abkhazia broke away from Georgia, it organised its own amateur Abkhazian football league in 1994 which is not part of any international football union. The league consists of 9 teams: Nart (Sukhumi
), Gagra
, Kiaraz (Pitsunda
), Samurzakan (Gali
), Afon (New Athos
), Ertsakhu (Ochamchire
), Kudry (Gulripsh) and Abazg-AGU (Sukhumi
). The Gagra football club was the 2006 champion. The Abkhazian team will probably participate in the Amateur League of the Southern Federal District (fourth tier of Russian football pyramid).
The Tbilisi
-based FC Dinamo Sokhumi
, composed chiefly of Georgian IDPs
from Sukhumi, play in the Umaglesi Liga
, the top division in Georgian football.
"Sukhum" basketball club plays in the Southern Division of the First League (fourth tier of the Russian basketball system).
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
plays an important cultural role.
Football
Football was the most popular sport in AbkhaziaAbkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
during Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
times. The main club of the republic, FC Dinamo Sukhumi, played mostly in the lower leagues of Soviet football. However, Abkhazia produced several football talents who played in the top Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
team FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
and in other Soviet teams. Natives of Abkhazia Vitaly Daraselia
Vitaly Daraselia
Vitaly Kuhinović Daraselia was a Georgian football player.Born to a Georgian father and Abkhaz mother, Daraselia played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi and Soviet Union national team...
, Nikita (Mkrtych) Simonian, Avtandil Gogoberidze
Avtandil Gogoberidze
Avtandil Nikolayevich Gogoberidze was a Georgian Soviet football player. He was a Grigory Fedotov club member...
, Niyazbey Dzyapshipa, Giorgi Gavasheli, Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri "Temur" Ketsbaia is a Georgian football manager and former player. As a player he represented the Georgian national team and played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Anorthosis Famagusta, AEK, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dundee.Ketsbaia is often regarded as having played a major role...
and Akhrik Tsveiba
Akhrik Tsveiba
Akhrik Sokratovich Tsveiba is a retired Soviet association footballer.-Career:...
were among the most prominent footballers of the Soviet Union.
Dinamo Sukhumi achieved their best result in 1991 finishing in 10th place in the first league (second tier of Soviet football). They were the only Georgian team to participate in the Soviet football system in 1990-1991 as other Georgian teams left for political reasons before the 1990 season. Several players of the 1990-1991 Dinamo Sukhumi squad including Sergei Ovchinnikov
Sergei Ovchinnikov
Sergei Ivanovich Ovchinnikov or Boss is a manager and former association football goalkeeper who played for the Russian national team...
and the Adzhindzhal brothers played later for Russian teams and achieved varying degrees of success, as did Oleg Dolmatov, Dinamo
FC Dinamo Sokhumi
FC Dinamo Sokhumi was a Soviet football club based in Sukhumi, Soviet Union.-History:Dinamo Sokhumi was played Soviet Second League. After the formation of Umaglesi Liga in 1990, as most of the Georgian club joined, likes Dinamo Tbilisi. In contrast, Dinamo Sokhumi remained in Soviet League system...
's coach in 1990-1991.
After Abkhazia broke away from Georgia, it organised its own amateur Abkhazian football league in 1994 which is not part of any international football union. The league consists of 9 teams: Nart (Sukhumi
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
), Gagra
Gagra
Gagra is a town in Abkhazia, Georgia’s breakaway republic, sprawling for 5 km on the northeast coast of the Black Sea, at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains...
, Kiaraz (Pitsunda
Pitsunda
Pitsunda is a resort town in Gagra district of Abkhazia.The town was founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC as a trade colony Pityus or Pitiunt. Excavations guided by Andria Apakidze unearthed remains of three 4th-century churches and a bath with superb mosaic floors...
), Samurzakan (Gali
Gali
Gali may refer to:* Gali , a town in Abkhazia, Georgia* Gali District, Abkhazia* Gali Municipality, Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia* Gali District, Georgia* Toa Gali, a hero in Lego's Bionicle storyline...
), Afon (New Athos
New Athos
New Athos is a town in the Gudauta raion of Abkhazia, situated some 22 km from Sukhumi by the shores of the Black Sea. The town was previously known under the names Nikopol, Acheisos, Anakopia, Nikopia, Nikofia, Nikopsis, Absara, Psyrtskha...
), Ertsakhu (Ochamchire
Ochamchire
Ochamchira is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia, Georgia, and a centre of the eponymous district.According to the 1978 population census, Ochamchira had 18,700 residents. After the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-93, Ochamchira experienced a significant population decline due to...
), Kudry (Gulripsh) and Abazg-AGU (Sukhumi
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
). The Gagra football club was the 2006 champion. The Abkhazian team will probably participate in the Amateur League of the Southern Federal District (fourth tier of Russian football pyramid).
The Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
-based FC Dinamo Sokhumi
FC ASMC Sokhumi
ASMC Sokhumi is a Georgian football club. It was formed by IDP from Abkhazia, as Dinamo Sokhumi. It's named after the most successful club from Abkhaz ASSR, FC Dinamo Sokhumi....
, composed chiefly of Georgian IDPs
IDPS
IDPS may refer to:*Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems*A graphics server software: iDPS...
from Sukhumi, play in the Umaglesi Liga
Umaglesi Liga
The Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union...
, the top division in Georgian football.
Other sports
The majority of Abkhazia's population have Russian citizenship so Abkhazian sportsmen participate in international competitions as Russian citizens. They had their biggest successes in boxing (2005 European Champion David Arshba; 2006 Russian Championship prize-winner Aslan Akhba) and freestyle wrestling (2006 American Airlines Freestyle Wrestling Tournament winner Denis Tsargush])."Sukhum" basketball club plays in the Southern Division of the First League (fourth tier of the Russian basketball system).