ISTANBUL (2016 Rio Olympics) - New Turkey head coach Aziz Akkaya is on a mission to ensure the team is energised as it looks to build momentum ahead of the 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).

After a breakthrough era under Ceyhun Yildizoglu which delivered podium success at continental level, as well as both Olympic and FIBA Women's World Championship debuts, it was Ekrem Memnun who initially took the coaching reins for EuroBasket Women 2015. The Turks arguably looked a little jaded in Romania and Hungary - they only just pipped Russia to the last remaining ticket for the WOQT - and the stress was written all over the face of Memnun as he just about delivered against the requirements set.

Both of his predecessors had their achievements built on the strength and experience of national team legend Nevriye Yilmaz and fan favourite Birsel Vardarli Demirmen. Neither of the veterans took part in the recent EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers and that was an unavoidable sign of things to come, as Akkaya is tasked with fuelling a transitional period and trusting a new generation of players.

His younger charges delivered on his debut, by beating Israel and then Bosnia and Herzegovina - although with a place at the Rio Olympics on the line, that won't spell the end of Yilmaz and Vardarli Demirmen just yet.

"They are prepared to do their duty and they will play as long as we get contributions from them," confirmed Akkaya. "We aim to bring together the dynamism with their experience."

The aforementioned dynamism is not necessarily being brought to the table quite yet by the batch of rising stars at his disposal - players such as Ayse Cora, Olcay Cakir, Cansu Koksal or Tilbe Senyurek. Although undeniably, Cakir is beginning to grow steadily in influence.

Yet, for all the talk about returning veteran stars and burgeoning talent, the real energy and dynamism could come from those players who fit into neither category. The trio of Isil Alben, Bahar Caglar and the naturalised Lara Sanders form very much the backbone and will remain so through any transition which takes place. They will be of paramount importance when it comes to Turkey's bid to wrap up successive Olympic spots.

Akkaya has praised Alben for her commitment to the cause through some injury struggles, while the blossoming versatility of Caglar is a real boon - and of course Sanders showed at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship and EuroBasket Women 2015 just how important her power in the paint can be.

"Isil [Alben] came and made great sacrifices for the Israel game recently and she was our leader on court for us," the coach recalled. "Bahar [Caglar] gives us a great advantage and especially defensively in the number three position. She now has a valuable reputation as a two-position player for the national team. Meanwhile Lara [Sanders] is a very important player - she sees herself as Turkish and helps to keep the team held together."

With Rio on their minds and a first major tournament test lying in wait for Akkaya, it feels like the jigsaw pieces for an Olympic place are on the table. Now he just needs to find the most effective way of putting them together - while perhaps also injecting some energy and verve, to ensure Turkey avoid the dangerous prospect of both looking and feeling jaded.

FIBA