Trafimava picking up Belarus coaching reins

MINSK (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers) - Rookie play-caller Nataliya Trafimava is hoping Belarus can defy some key absences to take down Belgium and punch their ticket for EuroBasket 2017.

Less than six months ago, Trafimava was competing as a player for her country at the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes and now she finds herself at the helm of her nation after taking over from Anatoli Buyalski.

Belarus are currently top of Group G with a 2-1 record and have a great chance of progressing - especially if they can wrap things up with victory in their last remaining qualifying contest. However, Trafimava will be without several big-hitters for the crunch game in Namur.

"For this the decisive qualification match and for various reasons, we will unfortunately not be able to have [Yelena] Leuchanka, [Lindsey] Harding and Viktoryia Hasper, while [Tatyana] Troina has retired," explained the Horizont coach.

"Anastasiya Verameyenka will also have to come directly to Belgium to join us and while these personnel issues will definitely be noticeable, I am sure it will not affect the team play. I don't plan to radically change the tactical interaction which is tried and tested over the years.

"I will not hide from the fact there is a certain excitement there, but it's a completely normal feeling when it comes to the matter of such importance as getting EuroBasket Women 2017.

"Of course we want to win, although I understand this will be extremely difficult and we must try to keep the pressure on Belgium’s leader, Emma Meesseman," added Trafimava.

Belarus beat Belgium 76-71 in the reverse game in Minsk, earlier in the campaign.

FIBA