FC Sapovnela ''(

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

:'' საფეხბურთო კლუბი საპოვნელა) is a

association football club from the town of

Terjola Terjola ( ka, თერჯოლა) is a town in Imereti, Georgia, serving as an administrative center of the homonymous district. Terjola is situated in the Imereti Lowlands in western Georgia, on the right bank of the Chkhara river.

. They compete in

Regionuli Liga Regionuli Liga ( Georgian: რეგიონული ლიგა), run by Georgian Football Federation since 1990, is the fifth and lowest division of the Georgian league system after Erovnuli Liga, Erovnuli Liga 2, Liga 3 and Liga 4. Its p ...

, the fifth tier of the national football system. Sapovnela was a municipal club, financially supported by the local municipality up until the 2016 season and by ''Georgian Football Development Foundation'' during the next two years. Overall, they have spent three seasons in

Umaglesi Liga The Erovnuli Liga ( ka, ეროვნული ლიგა - lit. National League) is the top division of professional football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football ...

, the Georgian top division.

History

Sapovnela made a debut in the

Pirveli Liga The Georgian Erovnuli Liga 2 ( ka, ეროვნული ლიგა 2; ), organized since 1990 by GFF, serves as the second division of professional football in Georgia. Under the current name the league was introduced for the 2017 season ...

competition in

1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of humanity on Earth, astrophysicist ...

. After three seasons they came 3rd and gained promotion to

, where the club stayed for two years. In 2013, Sapovnela finished in the third place in Liga 3 and returned to Pirveli Liga with ambitious plans to advance further to the top flight. This goal was implemented the next season. Under head coach Mirian Getsadze the team sealed the title with seven matches to spare 23 points clear of their rivals. Striker Giorgi Bukhaidze became a top scorer of B Group with 16 goals. Bukhaidze shined in the top league as well by scoring 15 of the overall 24 team goals. Sapovnela signed experienced field players Davit Odikadze, Aleksandre Koshkadze, Jaba Dvali and fought hard to stay up. Zviad Jeladze was appointed as a manager midway through this season following unsatisfactory results, but the club was inundated with problems. Since their home ground was announced unfit for hosting the league games, they hired pitches in neighbouring cities such as

Zestafoni Zestafoni or Zestaponi ( ka, ზესტაფონი, tr, ) is the administrative center of Zestafoni District in Western Georgia. Zestafoni is the center of an ancient, historical part of Georgia – Margveti, which is a part of Imereti ...

and Kutaisi. Lacking financial resources and home supporters, Sapovnela were fined by the

Federation A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government ( federalism). In a federation, the self-govern ...

with 5,000₾ for crowd disturbances, followed by 7,000 for verbal insults directed at referees and further 1,000 for setting off flares. The club was also ordered to hold one game behind closed doors. Besides, their officials made complaints about a biased approach from referees. Had Sapovnela prevailed over Chikhura in a final dramatic match of this season, they might have avoided relegation, although after a 3–2 loss they ended up bottom of the table. Likewise, a bitter survival battle lasted until the last day in

the next year. Having lost a crunch game again, the team finished in the drop zone. Their 2017 season in Liga 3 was dismal. With two wins in 36 games, Sapovnela showed the worst results among the participant clubs and suffered a third successive relegation. Beset by financial difficulties, they were no longer able to took part in

. In March 2018, they withdrew from the league. A year later the Kutaisi City Court declared Sapovnela bankrupt. The club came back to life in early 2023 to try to claw its way back into the upper divisions from the basement, the Georgian regional league.

Seasons

Honours

: Third place (2): 1992-93, 2015-16

Meore Liga Liga 3, organized by Georgian Football Federation since 1990, is the third division of professional football in Georgia. Until 2017, when the current name was introduced, it was known as Meore Liga (the Second league). Structure and league sys ...

: Winners (1): 2012-13

Players

References

External links

Profile On Soccerway
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sapovnela Terjola, FC Football clubs in Georgia (country) FC Sapovnela Terjola FC Sapovnela Terjola