FC Matchakhela Khelvachauri
FC Matchakhela is a Georgian football club based in the town of Khelvachauri. They currently compete in Liga 3, the third tier of the national league system.
| Full name | FC Matchakhela Khelvachauri |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Ground | Central stadium, Khelvachauri |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Manager | Avtandil Kunchulia |
| League | Liga 3 |
| 2023 | 14th of 16 in Liga 3 |
History
Matchakhela were founded оn the basis of Khelvachauri Sport School in 2011. Amiran Gogitidze, the first head coach, guided the club to Meore Liga, which they won with automatic promotion.[1]
Matchakhela were engaged in inter-Adjarian rivalry with Dinamo Batumi for a second promotion place to Umaglesi Liga for most of the next season, in which eventually the latter prevailed. Overall, the 3rd place taken in 2014 in Liga 2 has been the club's highest point reached in Georgian leagues.[2]
The team concluded the 2014/15 season comfortably in mid-table, but a year later entered a period of instability. Struggling the whole season, they eventually lost a battle for survival.
The 2016 season was transitional in all Georgian football leagues into Spring-Autumn system with a sharp reduction of clubs in each division. Matchakhela failed to remain in the third tier and thus suffered double relegation in successive seasons. Although they managed to climb back to Liga 3 the next year,[3] in 2018 the team finished bottom of the league.[4]
Matchakhela spent two seasons in Regionuli Liga before they won promotion to Liga 4 for 2021. After two more years, they successfully concluded their league campaign under Avtandil Kunchulia and moved back into the third tier.[5] In 2023, the team ended up in the drop zone, but due to the demotion of another club to Liga 4, Matchakhela managed to retain their place in the third division.
Seasons
| Season | League | Pos | MP | W | D | L | GF–GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Meore Liga West | 1st of 13↑ | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 74-11 | 62 |
| 2013-14 | Pirveli Liga Group B | 3rd of 14 | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 44-21 | 54 |
| 2014-15 | Pirveli Liga Group A | 6th of 10 | 36 | 14 | 3 | 19 | 48-66 | 45 |
| 2015-16 | Pirveli Liga | 16th of 18↓ | 34 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 30-43 | 37 |
| 2016 | Liga 3 Group B | 5th of 8↓ | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 25-23 | 22 |
| 2017 | Regionuli Liga West A | 2nd of 15↑ | 28 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 63-23 | 62 |
| 2018 | Liga 3 | 20th of 20↓ | 38 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 35-63 | 28 |
| 2019 | Regionuli Liga West | 8th of 10 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 30-40 | 20 |
| 2020 | Regionuli Liga West B | 2nd of 6↑ | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 28-16 | 24 |
| 2021 | Liga 4 White Group | 7th of 10 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 35-41 | 19 |
| Relegation Round | 5th of 10 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 45-24 | 30 | |
| 2022 | Liga 4 | 3rd of 16↑ | 30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 60-26 | 64 |
| 2023 | Liga 3 | 14th of 16 | 30 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 38-81 | 26 |
Squad
As of 13 March 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Third place (1): 2013-14, Group B
- Winners (1): 2012-13
• Liga 4
- Third place (1): 2022
• Regionuli Liga (West)
- Runners-up (2): 2017, 2020
Stadium
Matchakhela hosts home games at Akhalsopeli Central stadium, which has the capacity of 1,000 seats.
Name
The name derives from Machakheli, a geographical area near the border between Georgia and Turkey.
References
- "2012/13 season in Meore Liga". soccerway.com.
- "Pirveli Liga 2013/14". soccerway.com.
- "პლეი-ოფის წილისყრა ეროვნული ლიგა 3-ის საგზურისთვის". fanebi.com (in Georgian), 23 November 2017.
- "2018 in Liga 3". gff.ge.
- "ხელვაჩაურის „მაჭახელა" საქართველოს ლიგა 3-ში გადასასვლელად ემზადება". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 18 November 2022.