“It’s a worthy assessment of his skills and what he has done” – Edeshko on Sakandelidze’s inclusion in the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame

The inclusion of Olympic champion Zurab Sakandelidze is a worthy assessment of his skills and contribution to the victories of the Soviet team, Munich Olympics winner Ivan Edeshko told .

Earlier, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that USSR national team Olympic champion Zurab Sakandelidze would become a new member of the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on August 23 after the conclusion of the FIBA ​​Congress in Manila.

“I think he deserves it. He did so much for his country, for the Soviet Union! It’s good. It’s a worthy assessment of his skills and what he did. And not just for Soviet basketball, but also for Georgian.

If we talk about the final of the Munich Olympics, I think his contribution is enormous. Sakandelidze and Korkia, when they entered the lineup… Usually they didn’t come out in the main lineup, and Kondrashin, the genius coach, released them in order to spice up the game. And they made a bid for the win. Because no one expected them to be able to do speed basketball together. And we won almost the whole game.

Sakandelidze was a very good friend to everyone. Perhaps it was in a place that was ruined that he died so early… He wasn’t even 60 years old. And ten days after him, Korkia also died…

But Sakendelidze is, of course, the best Georgian basketball player of all time. I think so. For Georgia, an Olympic champion, it’s incredible. I think it may have ruined… Somehow Salnikov and I were invited to Georgia for the death anniversary… We went to the grave there” , Edeshko told .

Sakandelidze died aged 58 in 2004. The basketball player won gold at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he also became a bronze medalist at the 1968 Games, world champion and four-time European champion.