JOHANNESBURG (Afrobasket 2007) - South Africa are determined to create a better image of African basketball and believe that new coach Ngwenya Mlungisi Florsheim is the man to do it.

Former assistant coach Florsheim, who took charge in February, helped the team qualify for the forthcoming AfroBasket in Angola, and his expectations are high ahead of the August tip-off.

On qualification, he told PA Sport: "It was a great win for all of us.

"It is a great feeling knowing that your work is being valued.

"This is a transition phase on our basketball history. I am bringing in new and fresh ideas, innovation and different game style.

"The major transformation is from the 'old school' team concept to the modern one."

In the last edition of the tournament, in Algeria in 2005, South Africa won just one game, against neighbours Mozambique, and Florsheim is determined to improve on that record.

He added: "We have a young team, as the oldest player is only 28, but we are becoming a very competitive team."

South Africa will contest group D in the northern province of Cabinda along with Algeria, Tunisia and Cameroon, and Florsheim believes a good start is vital.

He said: "It will depend on how we will start the tournament. We have already played Algeria a few times and they are not an easy opponent.

"AfroBasket will be a great showpiece for the continent.

"If some top players come down from the NBA or the European leagues, it will become a great event.

"Boniface Ndong (of Los Angeles Clippers) is the best player in the continent at the moment in my personal opinion.

"If he comes he has a great chance of being the best player in the tournament - he plays well under pressure and he is a good team player."

Julio Chitunda
FIBA