Our goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games
Duda Sanadze is one of the most experienced players in the Georgian team. Throughout his career, he has worn the jerseys of numerous clubs. He began his professional journey with Dinamo Tbilisi, followed by stints at Rustavi and Batumi. His first international engagement was in Slovenia, where he played for Lastovka before moving on to Primorska.
He is also known to fans of ABA League basketball for his time with Borac Cacak. Last season, he played for Atomeromu. At the start of his conversation with Basketball Sphere, he talked about the atmosphere within the team.
“It’s very clear, our goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games and once again make history for our country. Much of the team has been together for a long time and we have been through a lot. The chemistry is great, as is our teamwork, which is our huge weapon.”
Qualifying for the Olympic Games would be a historic achievement
Georgia will play against host Latvia and the Philippines in the first phase of the qualifying tournament for the Olympics. The top two teams will advance to the semifinals and continue their quest for a spot in the Olympic Games.
“Nothing will be easy. Latvia and the Philippines are two excellent teams. They have completely different styles of play. There won’t be any easy opponents. Our mindset is to take it step by step'”. emphasizes Sanadze.
Georgia has never participated in the Olympic Games before. Last summer, they made a notable debut at the World Cup. Now, Duda Sanadze hopes his team can achieve another historic success.
“For us, qualifying for the Olympic Games would be a historic achievement. Last summer, we made our debut at the World Cup and reached the top 16 teams. We don’t want to stop there. We want to push the boundaries once again and make history for our country'”, says Duda Sanadze.
The greatest moment of career
On the bench for Georgia sits a well-known figure. Aleksandar Dzikic, after numerous successes in his club career, has decided to seek success with the national team. This isn’t the first time a Serbian coach has led Georgia; for many years, Igor Kokoskov held that position. The former coach of Buducnost and Partizan will attempt to lead the team to Paris.
“Aleksandar Dzikic is a fantastic coach. He’s a hard worker, and we’re all trying to adapt to his demands as quickly as possible. We can be dangerous against any opponent'”, emphasizes Sanadze.