From Branko Cupeski, Skopje

The EuroBasket 2011 qualification cycle for F.Y.R. of Macedonia starts on the country's biggest national holiday, the day the first modern Balkan Republic was formed, the day of the Ilinden revolution - August 2, 1903.

And the initial battle for the Macedonians will be against familiar foes Ukraine, the country that stopped them on the road to EuroBasket 2001 in Turkey.

That's not all.

Marin Dokuzovski, who was at the helm of that Macedonian team and stepped down after the decisive defeat in Kiev, is once again the man in charge.

Following Jovica Arsic's decision to step down after his successful run with the Macedonians which ended in the Qualifying Round at last year's EuroBasket in Poland, the country has turned to its former coach.

On Saturday in Munich, the Macedonians were drawn against Great Britain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Ukraine in Group B of the qualifying tournament.

"I am an optimist," Dokuzovski said. "It will all depend on us and on our form. If we have no injuries, we shouldn't have any problems winning the group."

Hungary enters what the Macedonian fans affectionately call the devils playground on August 5.

When it comes to their official match-ups with the Hungarians, Macedonia has three wins and one narrow away defeat (82-80, 1995).

"We could have got harder opponents, but this is not a group to underestimate. (However) We will go for a win in every single game," Dokuzovski said.

The visit on August 8 to Great Britain could be the hardest game if the hosts have their best line-up. That would include NBA star Luol Deng, who was injured and could not play at the EuroBasket in Poland last year.

There has also been talk of another NBA player, London-born Ben Gordon, playing for Britain but so far the Detroit Pistons sharpshooter hasn't worn the British uniform.

"We won against the Brits in Istanbul, in the preparations for the previous European Championship," Dokuzovski said.

"But if their roster is as expected, they could be the favorites for first place in the group."

Bosnia and Herzegovina are another old foe, a team that blocked the Macedonians' way in their qualifying campaign for EuroBasket 2007 in Spain. Maybe the advantage is that the first game is played in Skopje on August 14.

"I hope that we will overcome the Balkan mentality and that we will again play the basketball we know, the rhythm that suits us, the style that brought us to ninth place in Poland," Dokuzovski said.

"With a little more luck, we could have been in the Quarter-Finals."

As for the 50-year-old Dokuzovski, he was deemed the best home-grown coach available by the basketball federation to lead the national side.

He is among the top five active Macedonian basketball coaches. His domestic record with the Macedonian Maccabi, Rabotnicki Fersped and Rabotnicki Godel will stay unmatched for some time.

Dokuzovski had a good spell in Bulgaria with Lucoil Academic (Sofia), a place where he made his international name.

Now the challenge is to build on the success of the last two years that has made the national basketball team the shiniest, brightest Macedonian sports star.