Jemal Tsertsvadze – The “Pele of Handball”
J. Tsertsvadze during his playing days (Photo source: from the family archive)
TBILISI, May 25, 2024 - The name of legendary Georgian handball player Jemal Tsertsvadze (1939 - 2019) is well known in several countries of the world. He played for "Burevestnik" Tbilisi (1958 - 1975) and played giant role as this famous team became USSR champions twice (1962, 1964), triple vice-champions of USSR (1965, 1966, 1967) and bronze medallists in 1963.
Jemal Tsertsvadze continuously became “The Best Scorer” of the USSR Championships 10 times. He played for the USSR team from 1959 - 1972, took part in 78 matches and scored 276 goals. Jemal played in three World Championships (1964, 1967, 1970) and twice he was awarded as The Most technical player of the World Championship (1964, 1967) and three times he was called to the symbolic world team and in the late 1960s he played twice for the World Team (It should be distinguished that since February 1921 Georgia was occupied by Bolshevik Russia and was part of the Soviet Union between 1922-1990 – author).
Tsertsvadze awards to the youth handball player 2018 (Photo source: from the family archive)
European journalists called Jemal the "The Pele of Handball" for his fantastic technique and tricks, for his unpredictable throws at the World Championship in Sweden 1967. This nickname was pinned on him and Jemal was called like this in many countries of the world.
Jemal Tsertsvadze was named "The Best Handball Player of Georgia in the 20th century". Jemal was the Vice-President of the Handball Federation of Georgia (GHF) in 1997 - 2012, from 2012 till he died he was The Honorary President of GHF.
The open ceremony of the Memorial Slab Stela 2024
Memorial Slab-Stela Tsertsvadze
The inauguration of a memorial Slab-Stela with engraving portrait of Jemal Tsertsvadze took place this month at the home of the legendary handball player on the street Kekelidze #25 where he lived from 1972-2019 in Tbilisi.
The ceremony was organized by the Handball Federation of Georgia with support from Tbilisis’ Sakrebulo (City parliament), the International Foundation for Sports, Tourism and Youth operating in Tbilisi, and a number of sports and public organisations.
The ceremony was attended by the leaders of these organisations, as well as Guguli Khvitia the widow of J. Tsertsvadze, relatives and friends of the handball player. GHF President Vakhtang Meipariani (former captain of the Georgian national team in 1991-2000) noted that “Jemal Tsertsvadze was called the wizard of handball, the Pele of handball, that says it all.”
Jemal Tsertsvadze continuously became “The Best Scorer” of the USSR Championships 10 times. He played for the USSR team from 1959 - 1972, took part in 78 matches and scored 276 goals. Jemal played in three World Championships (1964, 1967, 1970) and twice he was awarded as The Most technical player of the World Championship (1964, 1967) and three times he was called to the symbolic world team and in the late 1960s he played twice for the World Team (It should be distinguished that since February 1921 Georgia was occupied by Bolshevik Russia and was part of the Soviet Union between 1922-1990 – author).
European journalists called Jemal the "The Pele of Handball" for his fantastic technique and tricks, for his unpredictable throws at the World Championship in Sweden 1967. This nickname was pinned on him and Jemal was called like this in many countries of the world.
Jemal Tsertsvadze was named "The Best Handball Player of Georgia in the 20th century". Jemal was the Vice-President of the Handball Federation of Georgia (GHF) in 1997 - 2012, from 2012 till he died he was The Honorary President of GHF.
Memorial Slab-Stela Tsertsvadze
The inauguration of a memorial Slab-Stela with engraving portrait of Jemal Tsertsvadze took place this month at the home of the legendary handball player on the street Kekelidze #25 where he lived from 1972-2019 in Tbilisi.
The ceremony was organized by the Handball Federation of Georgia with support from Tbilisis’ Sakrebulo (City parliament), the International Foundation for Sports, Tourism and Youth operating in Tbilisi, and a number of sports and public organisations.
The ceremony was attended by the leaders of these organisations, as well as Guguli Khvitia the widow of J. Tsertsvadze, relatives and friends of the handball player. GHF President Vakhtang Meipariani (former captain of the Georgian national team in 1991-2000) noted that “Jemal Tsertsvadze was called the wizard of handball, the Pele of handball, that says it all.”
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