Can Temur Ketsbaia Turn Cyprus Around?

 

Can Temur Ketsbaia Turn Cyprus Around?

By Stephen Kountourou

It has been a real struggle for supporters of the Cyprus national team over the last couple of years. Fans of the Island nation were promised that massive changes would come in the form of a younger squad, a focus on youth development, a more progressive style of football and the hope of becoming more competitive on the international stage. We have a more youthful side, but one that looked devoid of ideas almost every game. The team was evidently uncomfortable with what they were instructed to do on the pitch and a lack of tactical identity has resulted in some embarrassing results against teams that Cyprus should be beating. 

I have made this clear many times and I will say it again, this Cyprus team is talented. Individually Cyprus has a stronger side than people outside of the country give it credit for. Perhaps under a different manager than the likes of Johan Walem and Nikos Kostenoglou, who both failed spectacularly, the national team will hopefully not waste this generation of talent. This is where Temur Ketsbaia comes in. 

The Georgian coach has extensive experience managing in Cyprus, having previously taken Anorthosis to the First Division title twice, the Cypriot Cup twice and one Cypriot Super Cup during his five-year tenure between 2004 and 2009. He later returned to Cyprus, this time to manage APOEL and also delivered them the league title in 2015/16. Ketsbaia, between his stints in Cyprus, managed the Georgian national team from 2009 to 2015.

To get a better perspective on what Ketsbaia could bring to Cyprus I got in contact with Luka Lagvilava who runs @GeorgianFooty and knows all about Georgian football. 

What is Termur Ketsba's style of play as a manager?

“Temur's coaching manner is a bit old school, defensive-minded while utilising two defensive midfielders primarily, and tending to sign players who have a good array of abilities and physical attributes. (Have a look at the clubs he managed, most of the guys were quite tall and physical at every given position).”

“Also have to mention the discipline he requires from the players, as he's more of a demanding head coach. There have been a few locker room dramas with him due to his strictness with players.”

How as a supporter of the Georgian National Team did you feel he performed as a manager? 

“As for the national team, he has to this date, the longest unbeaten streak of our NT (10). He started very lively in 2010, but after the win against Croatia at home, everything went downhill, and a loss against Israel plummeted genuine chances to qualify for Euro 2012 and the team never got back to the same form since then.” 

“Apart from a few decent results against better sides, the team didn't really play well and tended to park the bus 80% of the time. Also have to mention that the group of players he had to manage were one of the worst in recent years, so that didn't do him well, obviously.”

How is he regarded as a manager by football fans generally in Georgia?

“In Georgia, the approach to him is a bit of a hit and miss.” 

“Apart from the positive start as the manager, everyone was positive about him, but after a few losses, some off-the-field issues with the players and due to his charisma, he got criticised a lot. The narrative was "He's true most of the time, but the delivery of his speech is woeful." Despite all that, most of the people who follow football like him as a former footballer and a coach with a relatively successful career (mainly qualifying Anorthosis to UCL).”

What do you think he will bring to Cyprus as a coach?

“When it comes to Cyprus, expect him to make a few changes and give chances to youngsters. Not exactly sure how Cyprus typically run their lineups and who the former head coach preferred to play, but a system change is imminent and if the player poll is alright, he'll get you some result but in an inconsistent path, I'd rather say.”

Despite his faults as a coach, Ketsba does have senior international managing experience, unlike his two most recent predecessors. This means that he could offer a level of discipline as a coach that the Cypriot players seem to have lacked in the last few years on the pitch. Perhaps this is an unlikely match made in heaven, or it could crash and burn, who knows. But I will stay positive with this appointment and hope that Ketsba can bring Cyprus back to a level of football that is expected of them, and maybe, just maybe, achieve the impossible.  

Hellas Football

@stevekountourou