Kereama was this week appointed head coach of the Tall Ferns after former coach Shawn Dennis left to take a coaching role with the NBL’s Perth Wildcats earlier this year.

Kereama assisted Dennis and former Bandits coach Leigh Gooding during the Tall Ferns 2008 Beijing Olympics campaign.

Kereama, 26, will hold the post until at least the end of September when Basketball New Zealand will appoint a full-time coach.

“It is always an honour to represent New Zealand regardless of the position you have in the coaching staff,” a proud Kereama said yesterday.

“It is a job I do not take lightly and ... I guess it feels good to think that the BBNZ board has some faith in a young coach.

“It also feels nice to be rewarded for my commitment to women’s basketball and I will do the best job that I can possibly do.”

Kereama’s appointment could also be a major boost for the Lady Bandits.

“Just because I no longer coach in Albury-Wodonga doesn’t mean I won’t keep supporting the program,” Kereama said yesterday.

“The club has offered me a great opportunity to coach in a great league and I guess there is always a chance that (2010 co-captain) Lisa Wallbutton could come back.

“I guess this is just something that will have to be discussed with the club over the next few months.”

Kereama made no secret of his desire to take on the Tall Ferns job full-time.

“I hope that I can prove and challenge myself over the next week with the upcoming tour to Japan,” he said.

“It would be a dream come true if I could secure the job until 2012.

“It was a goal of mine to be an assistant coach with the Tall Ferns at the 2012 Olympics.

“But obviously after going as one in 2008 I had to re-evaluate my goals.

Albury-Wodonga Bandits president Paul Gooding said Kereama’s appointment was a good advertisement for the club.

“He was almost there before he came to us so it’s great to hear he’s made the step,” Gooding said.

“He’s young and he was always going to go places.

“Ken had a great grooming and the bene-fit of some good positions under his belt, such as the Tall Ferns assistant job and his work with the (now-defunct WNBL team) Christ-church Sirens).”