OOSTENDE (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - Bosnia and Herzegovina's Nedim Buza is going to have plenty of support as he tries to cope with a gruesome leg fracture suffered in Wednesday night's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifier against Sweden.

The 21-year-old's club, Telenet Oostende in Belgium, was facilitating his return to the country on Thursday to offer him the proper care. His Oostende team-mates will be on hand to help in any way they can.

Buza was playing defense against the Swedes in his team's 78-76 win when his left leg gave way. After a delay in the action, Buza was rolled off the court on a stretcher.

Word of the injury spread and fellow Telenet Oostende star Pierre-Antoine Gillet was among those to find out.

"It's horrible," Gillet said to FIBA.com on Thursday afternoon. "Last night, I received a message from a friend and he asked if I'd seen what had happened. I saw news on Twitter and he then sent me the pictures and video.

"He's a young guy, a real prospect and putting in extra work like crazy so it's a shame. We'll be there for him and try to make it as easy for him as possible." - Gillet

"It's tough to see something like this. When it's somebody you know, a team-mate, it's even harder to watch.

Gillet, ruled out of Belgium's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 qualifying campaign with an injury, says that Buza is one of the most determined players at the club, one that has put in a lot of extra hours of work as he tries to realise his potential.

The 2.05m meter small forward/shooting guard is a big talent, one that played at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit for the World Select Team. He also featured for Bosnia and Herzegovina at last year's EuroBasket in France.

Buza challenges for a rebound at EuroBasket 2015

"No one deserves something like this to happen but it's really terrible that it happened to Nedim because of his work ethic," Gillet said. "It's really sad because it's going to take a long time for him to come back. But I think he'll be able to come back because he has the right mentality."

Oostende have announced team physician and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark van Dijk will perform the necessary surgery.

"I heard that he was already coming to Belgium today to have his surgery here and have his recovery here," Gillet said.

"The way the fracture is, a straight line, it's going to be easy for them to repair it but it's still really serious so we'll see. He's a young guy, a real prospect and putting in extra work like crazy so it's a shame. We'll be there for him and try to make it as easy for him as possible."

FIBA