# Jaba Kankava > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jaba_Kankava > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jaba_Kankava.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaba_Kankava > Source revision: 1326723629 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Georgian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jaba Kankava | image = Jaba Kankava.jpg | caption = Kankava in 2014 | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|3|18}} | birth_place = [Tbilisi](/source/Tbilisi), [Georgian SSR](/source/Georgian_SSR), [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) | height = 1.75 m | position = [Defensive midfielder](/source/Defensive_midfielder) | currentclub = [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi) | clubnumber = 23 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2003–2004 | clubs1 = [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi) | caps1 = 14 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = [Alania Vladikavkaz](/source/FC_Spartak_Vladikavkaz) | caps2 = 12 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2005–2006 | clubs3 = [Arsenal Kyiv](/source/FC_Arsenal_Kyiv) | caps3 = 24 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 2007–2015 | clubs4 = [Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk](/source/FC_Dnipro) | caps4 = 91 | goals4 = 4 | years5 = 2010–2012 | clubs5 = → [Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih](/source/FC_Kryvbas_Kryvyi_Rih_(1959%E2%80%932013)) (loan) | caps5 = 37 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2015–2017 | clubs6 = [Stade Reims](/source/Stade_de_Reims) | caps6 = 47 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2018–2020 | clubs7 = [Tobol](/source/FC_Tobol) | caps7 = 76 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2021 | clubs8 = [Valenciennes](/source/Valenciennes_FC) | caps8 = 14 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2021–2024 | clubs9 = [Slovan Bratislava](/source/%C5%A0K_Slovan_Bratislava) | caps9 = 71 | goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2025– | clubs10 = [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi) | caps10 = 26 | goals10 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam1 = [Georgia U17](/source/Georgia_national_under-17_football_team) | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2003–2004 | nationalteam2 = [Georgia U19](/source/Georgia_national_under-19_football_team) | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2004–2006 | nationalteam3 = [Georgia U21](/source/Georgia_national_under-21_football_team) | nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2004–2024 | nationalteam4 = [Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_football_team) | nationalcaps4 = 101 | nationalgoals4 = 10 | club-update = 10 December 2025 | nationalteam-update = 14 April 2024 }} '''Jaba Kankava''' ({{lang-ka|ჯაბა კანკავა|tr}}, {{IPA|ka|dʒaba kʼankʼava|pron}}; born 18 March 1986) is a [Georgian](/source/Georgia_(country)) professional [footballer](/source/association_football) who plays as a [defensive midfielder](/source/defensive_midfielder) for [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi). Kankava is the three-time winner of Slovakia's [Slovak First Football League](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League). With 101 appearances in official matches for the [national team](/source/Georgian_national_football_team), he is the second most-capped Georgian player after [Guram Kashia](/source/Guram_Kashia). He has been twice recognized as [Georgian Footballer of the Year](/source/Georgian_Footballer_of_the_Year).{{cite web |title=ჯაბა მეორედ: საქართველოს საუკეთესო ფეხბურთელი საქართველოს კაპიტანია |url=https://fortuna.ge/jaba-meored-saqartvelos-sauketeso-fekhburteli-saqartvelos-kapitania/ |website=fortuna.ge (in Georgian) |date=28 December 2019}} ==Club career== Jaba Kankava was born on 18 March 1986 in Tbilisi to Nana and Gia Kankava, and has one older brother, Levan. He played football from a young age, joining ''Vake 91'' when he was six in 1992. Kankava played eight years there under the management of Guram Chomakhidze before moving to Dinamo Tbilisi at the age of 14.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsport.ge/ge/page/136058_es-tasi-djabasia?ShowAllAdvSpaces |website=worldsport.ge (in Georgian) |title=ეს თასი ჯაბასია! |date=18 March 2016}} In 2004, Kankava started his football career with [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi), where Gia Geguchadze was just appointed as head coach. Geguchadze started to create a new club with youngsters and Kankava became a main member of them. In his first year, Kankava won the [Georgian Cup](/source/Georgian_Cup), and played in the [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League) scoring the winning goal against [Slavia Prague](/source/SK_Slavia_Prague) and contributing to the qualification for the group stages. After one season at Dinamo, Kankava moved to [Alania Vladikavkaz](/source/FC_Spartak_Vladikavkaz), where he played 12 matches, before signing a contract with [Arsenal Kyiv](/source/FC_Arsenal_Kyiv) in 2005. At Arsenal Kyiv, he played 24 matches and scored 4 goals. In 2007, Kankava agreed to sign a three-year contract with league rival [Dnipro](/source/FC_Dnipro). Newly arrived Kankava was among the starting squad from the first games but received a red card against [Dynamo Kyiv](/source/FC_Dynamo_Kyiv) because of a tough tackle and missed several games and was among the bench players. He won the silver medals of the Ukrainian league in 2014. The next season Kankava played in a dramatic [Europa League](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_UEFA_Europa_League) final against [Sevilla](/source/Sevilla_FC),{{cite web |title=Dnipro vs Sevilla |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2015228--dnipro-vs-sevilla/ |website=[UEFA](/source/UEFA) |date=27 May 2015}} which was his last appearance for the club. In eight years at Dnipro, he played 91 matches and scored 4 goals. In 2015, Kankava joined [Ligue 1](/source/Ligue_1) club [Reims](/source/Stade_de_Reims) in a deal worth €1.5 million.{{cite web |title=ჯაბა კანკავა "რეიმსში" გადავიდა |url=https://fanebi.com/jaba-kankava-reimsshi-gadavida-photo/ |website=fanebi.com (in Georgian) |date=14 August 2015}} During his second season at this club Kankava was three times named the best player of month by popular vote and eventually recognized Player of the Season.{{cite web |title=ფანების აღიარება: კანკავა რეიმსში საუკეთესოა |url=https://fortuna.ge/fortuna/post/fanebis-aghiareba-kankava-reimsshi-sauketesoa |website=fortune.ge (in Georgian) |date=27 May 2017}} In July 2017, he agreed to the termination of his contract which ran until 2018.{{cite news|title=Transferts : Jaba Kankava quitte Reims|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-jaba-kankava-quitte-reims/820547|access-date=27 September 2017|work=L'Équipe|date=24 July 2017|language=fr}} On 22 November 2018, Kankava signed a new two-year contract with [FC Tobol](/source/FC_Tobol).{{cite web |title=Тобол продлил отношения с 4 игроками |url=https://fctobol.kz/tobol-prodlil-otnosheniya-s-4-igrokami/ |website=fctobol.kz |publisher=FC Tobol |access-date=15 January 2019 |language=ru |date=22 November 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116125405/https://fctobol.kz/tobol-prodlil-otnosheniya-s-4-igrokami/ |url-status=dead }} On 16 January 2021, [Valenciennes](/source/Valenciennes_FC) announced the signing of Kankava on a contract until June 2021.{{cite web |title=Jaba Kankava s'engage avec le VAFC |url=http://www.va-fc.com/fr/saison/actualite/article/19603/Jaba-Kankava-s%E2%80%99engage-avec-le-VAFC.html |website=va-fc.com/ |publisher=Valenciennes FC |access-date=16 January 2021 |language=fr |date=16 January 2021 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116095206/http://www.va-fc.com/fr/saison/actualite/article/19603/Jaba-Kankava-s%E2%80%99engage-avec-le-VAFC.html |url-status=dead }} Аt the end of this season he joined [Fortuna Liga](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League) side [Slovan Bratislava](/source/%C5%A0K_Slovan_Bratislava).{{cite web |url=https://netgazeti.ge/news/549043/ |title=გურამ კაშია და ჯაბა კანკავა ბრატისლავის სლოვანში გადავიდნენ |date=17 June 2021 |language=KA}} In May 2022, he was selected in Team of the Season. During the next three years Kankava made 116 appearances for Slovan in all competitions and won three league titles.{{cite web |title=გურამ კაშია და ჯაბა კანკავა სლოვაკეთის ჩემპიონები ზედიზედ მესამედ გახდნენ |url=https://digest.ge/news/sazogadoeba/guram-kashia-da-jaba-kankava-slovaketis-chempionebi-zedized-mesamed-gakhdnen |website=digest.ge |access-date=14 April 2024}} He left the club in June 2024.{{cite web |title=Jaba Kankava už nebude rozdávať rany v belasom drese. Slovan sa rozlúčil s miláčikom fanúšikov |url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/jaba-kankava-uz-nebude-rozdavat-rany-v-belasom-drese-slovan-sa-rozlucil-s-milacikom-fanusikov-2024062713150239555 |website=sport.aktuality.sk |date=27 June 2024 |access-date=28 June 2024}} On 29 December 2024, [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi) announced the signing of Kankava to a one-year contract.{{cite web |title=ჯაბა კანკავა დინამოში დაბრუნდა |url=https://fcdinamo.ge/ge/news?n=105117&i= |website=fcdinamo.ge |publisher=FC Dinamo Tbilisi |access-date=2 January 2025 |language=Georgian |date=29 December 2024}} ==International career== On 8 September 2004, Kankava made his debut for [Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_football_team) against [Albania](/source/Albania_national_football_team) in the [2006 FIFA World Cup qualification](/source/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)). Later on, he managed score a goal against [Croatia](/source/Croatia_national_football_team) in [UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying](/source/UEFA_Euro_2012_qualifying), and against [Germany](/source/Germany_national_football_team) in [UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying](/source/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying). From August 2012 up to October 2021, he was the captain, leading the team in 62 matches.{{cite web |title=Georgia international footballers |url=https://eu-football.info/_players.php?id=85&data=10 |website=eu-football.info |access-date=28 June 2024}} On 27 January 2022, Kankava announced his retirement from international football after appearing in 100 matches, captaining Georgia 62 times,{{cite web |title=Georgia Football Team Captain Jaba Kankava Retires From International Duty |url=https://georgianjournal.ge/sports/37738-georgia-football-team-captain-jaba-kankava-retires-from-international-duty.html |website=Georgian Journal}} however he came out of retirement to feature in Georgia's qualifiers for [Euro 2024](/source/UEFA_Euro_2024).{{cite web |title=Georgia vs Luxemburg |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2039641--georgia-vs-luxembourg/ |website=[UEFA](/source/UEFA) |date=21 March 2024 |access-date=14 April 2024}} Kavkava received a call-up to the team for the European championship on 22 May 2024.{{cite web |url=https://primetime.ge/news/sazogadoeb/vili-saniolma-evropis-chempionatistvis-gundis-shemadgenloba-daasakhela |website=primetime.ge |title=ვილი სანიოლმა ევროპის ჩემპიონატისთვის გუნდის შემადგენლობა დაასახელა |date=22 May 2024 |language=KA}} Two days later, he announced that he would refrain himself from taking part in the matches and travel to [Germany](/source/Germany) as a fan only.{{cite web |url=https://sportall.ge/fekhburthi/fekhburthii/erovnuli-nakrebiiii/171387-qminda-chemi-gadatsyvetilebis-shesakheb-githkhrathq-nakrebshi-gamodzakhebuli-jaba-kankava-evropis-chempionatze-ar-ithamashebs.html |website=sportall.ge |title="მინდა, ჩემი გადაწყვეტილების შესახებ გითხრათ..." - ნაკრებში გამოძახებული ჯაბა კანკავა ევროპის ჩემპიონატზე არ ითამაშებს |date=24 May 2024 |language=KA}} His decision was widely hailed as unselfish and exemplary.{{cite web |title='ლეგენდარული კაპიტანი ხარ' - როგორ ეხმაურებიან ქომაგები ჯაბა კანკავას საქციელს |url=https://sportline.ge/index.php/?newsid=13702 |website=sportall.ge (in Georgian) |date=25 May 2024 |access-date=28 June 2024}} Although not present at [Euro 2024](/source/Euro_2024), Kankava was awarded the [Order of Honour](/source/Order_of_Honor_(Georgia)) by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2024.{{cite web |title=პრეზიდენტი - მინდა, ერთობის სახელით, ეს ჯილდო გადავცე ბიჭებს და ვუსურვო, რომ გზა მათი გამარჯვებისა უსასრულო ყოფილიყოს |url=https://president.ge/index.php?m=209&news_id=2229&lng=geo |website=president.ge |date=2 July 2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |language=KA |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706132755/https://president.ge/index.php?m=209&news_id=2229&lng=geo |url-status=dead }} ==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 28 May 2025}} ''Data available from 2008'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|[Dnipro](/source/FC_Dnipro) |[2008–09](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |rowspan="6"|[Ukrainian Premier League](/source/Ukrainian_Premier_League) |0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |[2009–10](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |[2012–13](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |17||1||2||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||24||1 |- |[2013–14](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |25||0||2||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||35||0 |- |[2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |15||0||2||0||14||1||colspan="2"|–||31||1 |- |[2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||0 |- |rowspan="4"|[Kryvbas](/source/FC_Kryvbas_Kryvyi_Rih_(1959%E2%80%932013)) (loan) |[2010–11](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |rowspan="3"|Ukrainian Premier League |8||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||8||0 |- |[2011–12](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |23||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24||0 |- |[2012–13](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Ukrainian_Premier_League) |7||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||7||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !38!!2!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!39!!2 |- | rowspan="3"|[Stade Reims](/source/Stade_de_Reims) | [2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_Ligue_1) | [Ligue 1](/source/Ligue_1) | 27||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||0 |- | [2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_Ligue_2) | [Ligue 2](/source/Ligue_2) | 20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 47!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!49!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|[Tobol](/source/FC_Tobol) | [2018](/source/2018_Kazakhstan_Premier_League) | rowspan="3"|[Kazakhstan Premier League](/source/Kazakhstan_Premier_League) | 28||3||2||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||34||3 |- | [2019](/source/2019_Kazakhstan_Premier_League) | 29||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||33||0 |- | [2020](/source/2020_Kazakhstan_Premier_League) | 19||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 76!!4!!4!!0!!6!!0!!0!!0!!86!!4 |- | [Valenciennes](/source/Valenciennes_FC) | [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Ligue_2) | Ligue 2 | 14||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||0 |- | rowspan="4"|[Slovan](/source/%C5%A0K_Slovan_Bratislava) | [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Slovak_First_Football_League) | rowspan="3"|[Slovak First Football League](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League) | 25||1||5||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||38||0 |- | [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Slovak_First_Football_League) | 26||1||3||2||10||0||colspan="2"|–||39||3 |- | [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Slovak_First_Football_League) | 20||1||3||1||16||0||colspan="2"|–||39||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total ! 71!!3!!11!!3!!34!!0!!0!!0!!116!!6 |- | [Dinamo Tbilisi](/source/FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi) | [2025](/source/2025_FC_Dinamo_Tbilisi_season) | [Erovnuli Liga](/source/Erovnuli_Liga) |14||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||14||0 |} ===National team=== {{updated|26 March 2024}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="19“|[Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_football_team) |2004||1||0 |- |2005||6||0 |- |2006||8||1 |- |2007||7||1 |- |2008||3||0 |- |2009||0||0 |- |2010||1||0 |- |2011||7||2 |- |2012||7||0 |- |2013||6||0 |- |2014||7||1 |- |2015||8||2 |- |2016||2||0 |- |2017||8||0 |- |2018||8||2 |- |2019||8||1 |- |2020||7||0 |- |2021||6||0 |- |2024||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!101!!10 |} :''Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kankava goal.'' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Jaba Kankava{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8486/Jaba_Kankava.html|title=Kankava, Jaba|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=19 October 2018}} |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- | align="center"|1 || 1 March 2006 || [Ta' Qali National Stadium](/source/Ta'_Qali_National_Stadium), [Attard](/source/Attard), Malta || {{fb|MLT}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [Friendly](/source/Friendly_(association_football)) |- | align="center"|2 || 16 November 2007 || [Al-Gharafa Stadium](/source/Thani_bin_Jassim_Stadium), [Doha](/source/Doha), Qatar || {{fb|QAT}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly |- | align="center"|3 || 3 June 2011 || [Stadion Poljud](/source/Stadion_Poljud), [Split](/source/Split%2C_Croatia), Croatia || {{fb|CRO}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–2 || [UEFA Euro 2012 qualification](/source/UEFA_Euro_2012_qualifying_Group_F) |- | align="center"|4 || 6 September 2011 || Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta || {{fb|MLT}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |- | align="center"|5 || 14 October 2014 || [Estádio Algarve](/source/Est%C3%A1dio_Algarve), [Faro](/source/Faro%2C_Portugal)/[Loulé](/source/Loul%C3%A9), Portugal || {{fb|GIB}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [UEFA Euro 2016 qualification](/source/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_D) |- | align="center"|6 || 25 March 2015 || [Mikheil Meskhi Stadium](/source/Mikheil_Meskhi_Stadium), [Tbilisi](/source/Tbilisi), Georgia || {{fb|MLT}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly |- | align="center"|7 || 12 October 2015 || [Red Bull Arena](/source/Red_Bull_Arena_(Leipzig)), [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig), Germany || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–2 || UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |- | align="center"|8 || 13 October 2018 || [Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena](/source/Boris_Paichadze_Dinamo_Arena), Tbilisi, Georgia || {{fb|AND}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [2018–19 UEFA Nations League D](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_UEFA_Nations_League_D) |- | align="center"|9 || 16 October 2018 || [Daugava Stadium](/source/Daugava_Stadium_(Riga)), [Riga](/source/Riga), Latvia || {{fb|LVA}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D |- | align="center"|10 || 15 October 2019 || [Victoria Stadium](/source/Victoria_Stadium%2C_Gibraltar), Gibraltar || {{fb|GIB}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–2 || [UEFA Euro 2020 qualification](/source/UEFA_Euro_2020_qualifying_Group_D) |} ==Honours== '''Dinamo Tbilisi''' * [Georgian Cup](/source/Georgian_Cup): 2003–04 '''Dnipro''' * [Premier League](/source/Ukrainian_Premier_League) runner-up: [2013–14](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_Ukrainian_Premier_League) * [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League) runner-up: [2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_UEFA_Europa_League) '''Tobol''' * [Kazakhstan Premier League](/source/Kazakhstan_Premier_League) runner-up: [2020](/source/2020_Kazakhstan_Premier_League) '''Slovan Bratislava''' * [Fortuna Liga](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League): [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Slovak_First_Football_League), [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Slovak_First_Football_League), [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Slovak_First_Football_League) * [Slovak Cup](/source/Slovak_Cup) runner-up: [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Slovak_Cup) '''Individual''' * [Georgian Footballer of the Year](/source/Georgian_Footballer_of_the_Year): 2015, 2019 *[Slovak First Football League](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League) Team of the Season: [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Slovak_First_Football_League){{Cite web|url=https://www.fortunaliga.sk/clanok/2912-jedenastka-sezony-najlepsim-hracom-weiss-ml-objavom-kadak|title=Jedenastka sezony...|website=Fortuna liga|date=22 May 2022}} ==Awards== On 30 March 2014, Kankava saved the life of [Dynamo Kyiv](/source/FC_Dynamo_Kyiv) captain, [Oleh Husyev](/source/Oleh_Husyev), after Husyev was briefly knocked unconscious in a collision and swallowed his tongue which [blocked his airway](/source/Airway_obstruction). Kankava reacted immediately by sticking his fingers in Husyev's mouth to dislodge his tongue and [clear his airway](/source/Basic_airway_management).{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/31/dnipro-jaba-kankava-kiev-oleg-gusev-save-life-swallow-tongue|title=Dnipro's Jaba Kankava saves Kiev captain's life after he swallows tongue|date=31 March 2014|access-date=31 March 2014|work=The Guardian}} On 12 April 2014, before Dnipro played [Metalurh Zaporizhya](/source/FC_Metalurh_Zaporizhya) at the [Dnipro Arena](/source/Dnipro_Arena), Kankava was awarded the [Order of Merit](/source/Order_of_Merit_(Ukraine)) for his actions in [Dnipropetrovsk](/source/Dnipropetrovsk). He saved someone's life so he deserved it.[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/futbolist_dnipra_kankava_udostoe_niy_nagorodi_za_poryatunok_guse_va_1929063 Dnipro footballer Kankava was given an award for saving Husyev] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421222224/http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/futbolist_dnipra_kankava_udostoe_niy_nagorodi_za_poryatunok_guse_va_1929063 |date=21 April 2014 }}. [Ukrinform](/source/Ukrinform). 14 April 2014 ==See also== * [List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps](/source/List_of_men's_footballers_with_100_or_more_international_caps) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{FIFA}} * {{NFT}} * {{WorldFootball.net |new_id=pe7731}} * {{Soccerbase}} * {{Soccerway}} * {{FFU}} {{FC Dinamo Tbilisi squad}} {{Georgian Footballer of the Year}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kankava, Jaba}} Category:Living people Category:1986 births Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Georgia (country) Category:Footballers from Tbilisi Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Men's footballers from Georgia (country) Category:Georgia (country) men's under-21 international footballers Category:Georgia (country) men's international footballers Category:Georgia (country) men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century sportsmen from Georgia (country) Category:FIFA Men's Century Club Category:Erovnuli Liga players Category:Russian Premier League players Category:Ukrainian Premier League players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Slovak First Football League players Category:FC Dinamo Tbilisi players Category:FC Spartak Vladikavkaz players Category:FC Arsenal Kyiv players Category:FC Dnipro players Category:FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih players Category:Stade de Reims players Category:FC Tobol players Category:Valenciennes FC players Category:ŠK Slovan Bratislava players Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class Category:Expatriate men's footballers from Georgia (country) Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Russia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Ukraine Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in France Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Kazakhstan Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Kazakhstan Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Slovakia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Slovakia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jaba Kankava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaba_Kankava) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaba_Kankava?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.