PRAGUE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Ronen Ginzburg has decided to devote all of his energies to leading the Czech Republic national team and will no longer be at the helm of CEZ Nymburk.

The Israeli coach, who went from being an assistant for several years to head coach of CEZ Nymburk in 2011, will at the beginning of November dive head first into getting the Czechs ready for their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers. They will take on Iceland, Finland and Bulgaria in the First Round.

Ginzburg has signed a four-year contract.

"There is a generational exchange in the national team and our intention is to give young players the greatest opportunity to gain international experience so that we can succeed in four years in the European Championship (FIBA EuroBasket 2021)," said Czech Basketball Federation Secretary General Michal Konecny.

"At the same time, however, we see the upcoming qualifying for the World Cup 2019 as a commitment to the fans, and our goal is at least a move to the second round, where anything can happen."

Martin Peterka, 22, played at this summer's FIBA EuroBasket for the Czechs

The Czechs will start their World Cup Qualifiers campaign at home against Iceland on November 24 in Pardubice and will three days later be in Helsinki to take on Finland. Bulgaria will host the first Group F game between the sides on February 23.

Oren Amiel, who has been working as Ginzburg's assistant, will now take the helm at Nymburk.

FIBA