Tornike Shengelia (30 years old and 2.06 meters) left Russia two days after the Slavic army illegally invaded Ukraine. “Everyone says it was a difficult or important decision, but it wasn’t. I felt that my family was threatened, even though the war was not in Moscow. With war you never know what will happen, a second is enough. The first thing I did was get my family out, and then I made the decision to go too,” he reveals. Toko a Michalis Gioulenoglou from gazzetta.gr.
The center signed in the summer of 2020 for three seasons with CSKA after a successful six years at Bitci Baskonia in the Endesa League. The decision to sign with Muscovites was not an easy one. Shengelia ended up in the great Russian team being Georgian: Both countries entered into armed conflict in the summer of 2008 over the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (both on the border between the two states), which separated from Georgia after the war and became independent republics.
Objective, the Euroleague
The pressure from Georgia was great on Toko, who experienced a real odyssey to reach Russia: due to the closure of the airspace due to COVID-19, he had to cross the border on foot. Everything was relaxed when Shengelia contracted that he would play the Qualifying Windows with his country, despite being in a Euroleague team, a competition in dispute with FIBA and that does not stop during that national team break. Despite this, he never found himself entirely at ease. Neither CSKA nor Moscow nor Russia.
“Being from Georgia played a big role in my decision. Someone may ask me: ‘Why did you go to play in Russia?’ CSKA offered me a contract and I didn’t make the decision to say ‘yes’ until they made it a condition to play for my national team. That was very important to me. Also, CSKA is one of the best clubs in Europe and the idea of being able to win the EuroLeague was attractive to me. That was my goal”, continues the former Baskonia player.
Sensations at CSKA
“Now I realized that wasn’t such a good idea.. Although everyone (president, coaches, teammates) did everything possible to make me feel comfortable in the club, I couldn’t be myself. It was not the same player, the same person. She was always trying to do her best, but emotionally she wasn’t there,” she assures.
Another of the consequences of the war at a sporting level has been the expulsion of Russian clubs from the different continental competitions. His ex, CSKA, for example, has not played in the Euroleague since the invasion. And it is in question that he can do it next season. “As much as we want to say that politics and sport are not the same and should not be mixed, in some situations it is not possible. And this is one of those situations. It is not only about sport, but about the unity of all the organizations and countries that have made a unanimous decision”, he continues.
The Virtus and its future
“I cannot say that I am satisfied because I know that many people in sports organizations are not in favor of the war, but right now, if you ask me who is suffering, I will answer that it is the people of Ukraine and not the members of said organizations. ”, says Shegelia, who will play until the end of the season with the Italian Virtus Bologna. Later, he will be seen, but some information places him in Barcelona next year: “I keep my options open (with regard to summer and the hypothetical Barca rumour). There were so many emotions in the last few weeks that I didn’t want to commit long-term.”
Shengelia and her time at CSKA: “I wasn’t there emotionally”
Shengelia: “At CSKA Moscow I couldn’t be myself”
Shengelia: “Being from Georgia was important to leave CSKA”
Shengelia: “Sports and politics are the same when there is war”