Ramaz Shengelia passes away

Gia Saralidze. Exclusively to VK

The legendary forward of Dynamo Tbilisi and the national team of the USSR, Ramaz Shengelia, has died in Tbilisi aged 55. 

Ramaz Shangelia arrived at Dynamo Tbilisi in 1977 from Torpedo Kutaisi, which used to be a talent foundry for the main team of the republic. Nodar Akhalkatsi invited Shengelia to Dynamo and didn’t go wrong. In 1978 Dynamo, due to the outstanding playing of the young Shengelia, managed to win the USSR championship, and Ramaz was awarded the best player of the country.

Shengelia was a true scorer. The Georgian forward had remarkable intuition. He was often compared with the German forward Herd Muller. The forward was always in the right place at the right time. He scored many goals after a bounce or appearing in front of an empty net. However, it is difficult to say that he scored 120 goals in the USSR championships only due to luck.

Of course, such players as Ramaz Shengelia depend on partners, on appropriate and unexpected passes from defenders. At that time Tbilisi Dynamo had a genius of passing – David Kipiani. The attacking Shengelia-Kipiani tandem threatened any rival. Many goals were scored due to the precise passes of Shengelia’s partner. Unfortunately, the head coaches of the USSR national team didn’t use this tandem to the full. Only Shengelia came to the World Cup 1982, but he didn’t show his best qualities in Spain.

The hour of triumph for Ramaz Shengelia was his victory in the ECWC in 1981.

Few people know that Shengelia had problems with his heart. In 55 his heart stopped beating as the result of a heart attack. The forums of sporting periodicals are full of messages from people who are mourning and showing their appreciation for the outstanding player and man.