The Ukrainian basketball federation have appointed Maryna Tkachenko as the new head coach of the Ukrainian women's national team.

Tkachenko, who will retain her position as head coach of the women's club team BC Team-Scuf, was previously in charge of the national side in 2001.

However, Tkachenko was pessimistic of her team’s chances of getting the final qualification spot for Eurobasket Women 2005.

She told Segodnya: “We will try and win but we will retain our position in the A division as FIBA Europe have decided to extend it next year.”