Bosnia and Herzegovina trust Mulaomerovic at the helm

SARAJEVO (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) -The board of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Basketball Federation (KSBiH) decided on Wednesday to appoint Damir Mulaomerovic as head coach of their senior national team for this summer's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers.

Mulaomerovic, who is also the head coach of Cibona Zagreb, is tasked with steering Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualification from Group B where they are set to do battle with Russia and Sweden.

The 41-year-old former Croatian international is replacing in the role Dusko Ivanovic, who had coached Bosnia and Herzegovina in their successful qualifying campaign for FIBA EuroBasket 2015 as well as at the showcase event last September.

Mulaomerovic took the reins of Cibona in December, after the storied Croatian club parted ways with coach Slaven Rimac.

He steered them to the Quarter-Final Play-Offs of the FIBA Europe Cup where they fell 2-1 to Enisey Krasnoyarsk, while they have secured a berth in the upcoming Semi-Finals of their domestic league post-season.

During his playing career Mulaomerovic collected 128 international caps with Croatia but he was born in the city of Tuzla, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has therefore strong links to the country.

His first coaching role in 2013 was indeed at the helm of Tuzla side OKK Sloboda, which he led to a surprising fourth-place finish in their first season after earning promotion to the top flight of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While Mulaomerovic is still in the early stages of his coaching career, his long experience as a top point guard and the capacity he has already showcased in working with young players are potentially enormous assets in his new position.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which celebrated an historic gold medal success at the U16 European Championship last summer, are looking to gradually incorporate their young talented players in the senior national team.

Some of the most exciting up-and-coming players anywhere in Europe, such as Nedim Buza, Nedim Djedovic, Dzanan Musa, Edin Atic, Amar Gegic or Sani Campara could likely get some time on the court during this summer's qualifying campaign.

Jusuf Nurkic, another promising youngster despite the fact he has already completed two NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, recently announced his decision to play for the national team again following a two-year absence.

Mulaomerovic will also soon find out if he can count this summer on national team captain Mirza Teletovic and fellow star Nihad Djedovic, who did not play at FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

Bosnia and Herzegovina face Russia on the road in the premiere of Qualifiers Group B, on 31st August.

FIBA