June 20, 2008
Anna Rekhviashvili , Georgia Today

The Arveladze Foundation, set up by professional football playing brothers Shota, Archil and Revaz Arveladze, entered into a partnership with the Bank of Georgia on June 16.

The Arveladze Foundation was created in 2004 to promote the development of young footballers in Georgia, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Bank of Georgia has become a general partner of the Arveladze Foundation in order to provide a more stable system of funding and increased financial support for the foundation’s activities.

The Director General of the Bank of Georgia, Irakli Gilauri, stated that the partnership was formed as the bank believe that developing the skills of talented young Georgian footballers is the key to a better future for Georgian football, and the wider economy.

The Arveladze Foundation works to promote the next generation of footballers not only from Tbilisi, but also from the regions. Archil Arveladze explained that facilities and professionals in the regions are not up to standard due to lack of funding, and that potential football stars’ skills are being wasted. The foundation seeks to change this by offering funding to particularly talented youngsters so that they can have access to better training facilities and education abroad.

Shota Arveladze commented: “All Georgian children should believe that they are as capable and smart as others, they trust themselves, and believe that playing in first class clubs is not an impossible dream. We want to make young Georgian footballer’s dreams come true.”

The Arveladze brothers know well that living and playing abroad comes with some logistical problems, such as visas, residence permits, work permits, accommodation and passports, not to mention the social and emotional difficulties.

Despite all these difficulties, the foundation has managed to send several 10-12 year olds to different clubs in Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands.

The fund also organizes the participation of Georgian kids’ teams in international tournaments and in some cases offers stipends to gifted youngsters in order to increase their motivation.

As well as young footballers, the fund also aims to develop Georgian coaches and trainers by offering them the chance to gain further training and qualifications, so that they can, in turn, train the next generation of footballers in Georgia.

The Bank of Georgia and the Arveladze Foundation have already cooperated on one event: the farewell match that marked the end of Shota Arveladze’s professional football career.

The cooperation between the two organizations will allow the young Georgian team to take part in the two-day ‘Mini Champions League’ tournament in Amsterdam next May.