ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - Former Turkey star Omer Onan is helping the national team get ready to host FIBA EuroBasket 2017 but the CEO of the country's basketball federation (TBF) is also enthusiastically looking ahead to November.

That's when Turkey's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers will tip off with a home game against Latvia in Group B.

Fans have turned out in big numbers when Turkey's national side has played at home before and Onan doesn't expect that to change.

"No question it will be sold out in Turkey," he said to FIBA.com of the World Cup Qualifiers on home soil. "I can guarantee it. We've spoken to the public and they're excited about watching the national team in the country."

When Onan, who is 39, first suited up for Turkey's senior side, the national team played qualifying games for big tournaments during the year and he remembers the fans responded well. They were passionate about the Turkish team.

Onan was in the national sides that hosted FIBA EuroBasket 2001 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010.

Onan was a key player for Turkey at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 

"I had a great experience in 2001 in Turkey. We played in the Final. And in the 2010 World Cup, we played in the Final again," he said. "It was great to play in front of your people, how they support you, how they work together on the court. Now, with this window, we'll start it (again)."

Turkey's players thrived on the home support at both events.

Veterans that were in the side that finished runners-up to the USA in 2010 already know what a home-court advantage can do for a team.

The Turks took full advantage of playing the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 on home soil by finishing second behind the USA

Onan is excited that the country's up-and-coming stars that make the team for the World Cup Qualifiers will soon get a taste of being at home.

"The young players don't know how it feels but I'm sure very soon when the games start, they'll see how great it is to play in front of their public and their supporters," he said. "They get the national team jersey and it's more meaningful.

"I think there will be many more new heroes in these windows. There will be more opportunities for the young players to play in front of their own people, to get the self-confidence."

Onan says it has yet to be decided where Turkey will host games in the World Cup Qualifiers. In addition to the game against Latvia on November 23, Turkey's other two home games will be the third window on June 28 against Ukraine and July 1 versus the team from the Pre-Qualifiers.

There are several options for the games.

"Ankara  is very special for us," Onan said. "I played that time in 2010 (in the Group Phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup). The Ankara fan loves a lot the national team and every time it sells out. Also in Istanbul and many cities now ask us why don't we come and play there."

Another city with a huge appetite for basketball is Kayseri, which was evident during home games for women's side Bellona AGU. It also played host to a group stage of FIBA's flagship event in 2010.

Onan said: "Also Kayseri, our women's team played in the FIBA EuroCup this year and the games sold out - 8-, 9-thousand capacity. For women's basketball, that's great."

Aside from the thrill of competition, the World Cup Qualifiers represent a good opportunity for the federation to attract sponsors.

Onan was appointed CEO of the Turkish Basketball Federation last October

"It's a better opportunity to get more sponsors because they are happier with that (windows)," Onan said. "During the season, it's not easy to get the players from the team in a commercial in sponsorship with the national team and now, you can make commercials, the companies can use them as they want and it's good for the federation - I think from a business side it's great."

All things considered, this is a very exciting time for basketball in Turkey.

"When I played for the national team many, many years ago," Onan said, "we had the windows during the season. This is great, home and away games. People watch their players more during the season ... they can watch many times and feel the competition.

"If the issue is the national team, we never have a problem. The only problem is the capacity is not enough."

FIBA