Data Sitchinava

Data Sitchinava (დათა სიჭინავა; born 21 March 1989) is a Georgian professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Erovnuli Liga 2 club Sioni Bolnisi.

Born in the city of Poti, Sitchinava has spent eight seasons at his hometown club and twice, in 2010 and 2023, played a key role in their promotion to the top division. Apart from being named as Footballer of the Year in the second division, he is the two-times champion of the Erovnuli Liga 2.

Career
Sitchinava signed his first professional contract with Ameri Tbilisi.

He spent the second half of 2011 at Gagra who had just gained promotion to Umaglesi Liga. With this team Sitchinava made his European debut on 14 July 2011 in a Europa League qualifier against Anorthosis Famagusta.

While at Rustavi, in 2017 Sitchinava netted 30 goals and as a top scorer of the 2nd division received the Player of the Year award.

He was a top goalscorer for Sioni Bolnisi in 2021 with 20 goals, largely contributing to the team's promotion to the top flight. Moreover, this season he was named the best player of the last quarter (Round 28–36). On 24 November 2021, he scored his 100th goal in the second division in a 5–2 win over Chikhura Sachkhere in which he netted a hat-trick.

Following this successful season, Sitchinava unexpectedly joined Liga 3 side Kolkheti 1913 in February 2022 for the fifth spell. With 19 goals scored in 25 league appearances he once again proved his goalscoring abilities that helped the team achieve a long-awaited promotion.

In a decisive crunch game of the 2023 season against Gareji Sagarejo, Sitchinava scored a sublime long-distance free kick, which proved enough for Kolkheti 1913 to win the league. Overall, he netted 17 goals this season and became the top goalscorer of his team. However, the sides parted company before the start of the next season and Sitchinava returned to Liga 2 side Sioni Bolnisi for his third stint.

Honours
Individual
 * Top scorer and Erovnuli Liga 2 Player of the Year: 2017

Team


 * Erovnuli Liga 2 champion: 2021, 2023


 * Erovnuli Liga 2 runner-up: 2009–10