|
Australian Football League (AFL) on eBay
|
|
|
|
|
Articles
|
| Aussie Rules in Georgia |
|
Formed in 2001, Ozirulz Georgia was formed by Sir Qaflan Jandieri but seems to have made as much progress as a 'three-legged tortoise walking uphill'.
|
Although a website was setup around late 2002/early 2003, it contained very little information apart from contact details and a background to the organisation.
The site can be viewed here.
The last update to the site was made in February 2003.
Above Ozirulz Georgia logo
There seems to be no record of any clubs or results of matches that may have been played.
The organisation was possibly run as a side project to the Georgian Rugby Union, although it does mention that Aussie Rules is the most spectacular of sports.
A more correct statement has never been made!
What has come from this attempt to launch Aussie Rules in Georgia is not known, apart from the sad announcement by Sir Qaflan Jandieri on 23 November 2004 that "...the game of Australian Rules Football is dead in Georgia."
2010 UPDATE
In January 2010 there were rumours in some online forums that Aussie Rules was 'alive, well and kicking' in Georgia.
But, sadly, this turned out to be untrue according to an email (from an anonymous Georgian resident) that was published on a forum. It explains the situation in Georgia...
'Unfortunately, OZIRULZ GEORGIA turned into a utter bluff
GEO was allowed into (now defunct) IAFC membership back in 2002
They got one red BURLEY leather match ball,
two artificial kicking balls with hand-prints for punt,
four VHS tapes, four pocket-size booklets, a quarterly bulletin
and a Membership Certificate for 100 Lari
but the Game never got started
Initially, four rugby Union clubs were keen to taste new fruit
but instead they trialled rugby League that promised them voyages
There was a plan to showcase the 9-a-side AFL during
long break during Tbilissi leg of Euro Sevens in June 2004 but
Union was reluctant to share its market-place with a possible competitor
Since then there was almost no movement
but I keep that BURLEY displayed at my book-shelf and
when a visitor = all of them are involved with rugby =
urges to give it to him, I reply:
Start AFL at Race Course
(Hooligana, Academy + some rec-rugby clubs train there)
and it will be yours with addition of my AFL resources
(knowledge + tapes + DVDs)
As I’m aware of, some clubs play simplified AFL as warm-up
In meanwhile, AFL is regularly shown on cable Global TV
(via UAE based ORBIT SHOWTIME) since 2007
and watched by youth, mostly related to rugby
They understand basic rules and principles,
almost all of them regard AFL as a great game to watch and play,
but HENCE they (NOT ME!) are voyage-obsessed (SADLY!)
the AFL will NOT start here until somedody promises
them a free TRIP to SOMEWHERE
Then they will try even ROLLER-BALL with 99% insurance
*PS* Sorry, if I were blunt and dis-appointed you'
It is hopeful that interest in the game may re-surface again one day and a Georgian team may take part in the International Cup in the future, but the secret is to introduce it to the schools, and not the older population. Just take South Africa as an example.
|
Posted on Dec 29, 2010 20:26pm by admin
(Return to Articles)
|
|
|
|
|
Article Categories
|
|
|
Date and Time
|
|
|
Search Our Site
|
|
|
