Based in London, Tatenda Shonhiwa is one of the dedicated officials shaping the future of basketball in the United Kingdom. Transitioning from player to coach and referee, Tatenda has remained deeply committed to giving back to the game that shaped his life. Since concluding his playing career at the end of the 2021/22 season, he has focused his energy on officiating and coaching — striving to contribute meaningfully to every match he is a part of.
Author: Oleh Vdoviak
Euroleague Referee Tomasz Trawicki Joins the Instructors’ Team for This Year’s Camp
We are proud to announce that Tomasz Trawicki, a EuroLeague referee and long-standing official in Poland’s Top Men’s League (PLK), will join the Instructors’ Team for this year’s edition of our camp.
Having launched his refereeing career in 1994 in Poland, he quickly ascended through the ranks, becoming a FIBA referee in 2005 and earning his Euroleague license in 2010 — a testament to his consistency, leadership, and deep understanding of the basketball.
Mohamed Saied: Egyptian Experience Meets Global Aspiration
“Leadership, teamwork, and continuous learning are not just values — they are a way of life.” These words from Mohamed Saied, a seasoned basketball referee from Egypt, perfectly summarize the journey that has shaped his career for nearly 15 years.
Oman’s Voice: Taha Al Amri at Survival Camp 2025 as a camper
Introducing another participant of Survival Camp 2025 – Taha Al Amri, a dedicated basketball referee from the Sultanate of Oman, whose journey in officiating began a decade ago.
Omani Referee Mazin Al Hilali Joins Survival Camp 2025 as a camper
We are pleased to welcome Mazin Khalfan Khamis Al Hilali from the Sultanate of Oman to this year’s edition of the Survival Camp.
Since beginning his officiating journey in 2019, Mazin has shown steady development through active participation in numerous training programmes, both within Oman and internationally. His most recent development experience took place at a training camp in Doha, Qatar in 2023.
Damir Javor – Elite EuroLeague Referee Joins the Survival Camp 2025 as a Guest Speaker
We are delighted to announce that Damir Javor, one of Europe’s most experienced basketball referees, will be joining the Instructors’ Team this summer.
Damir began his officiating journey in 1995 and quickly rose through the ranks, entering 1 st Slovenian professional league in the 2000/2001 season, earning his FIBA referee license in 2006 and EuroLeague licence in 2009. His path since then has been marked by consistent excellence on the global stage.
Marcin Kowalski – EuroLeague Referee from Poland Joins the Instructors’ Team
We are pleased to announce that Marcin Kowalski, an Euroleague referee and Polish Top Men’s League referee, will be joining the Instructors’ Team this summer.
Marcin began his refereeing career in 1990 in Poland, achieved FIBA referee status in 2003, and earned his Euroleague license in 2005. His international experience also includes officiating at the NBA Summer League in 2012.
Luke Rockett Joins Survival Camp: Rising English Referee Looks to Level Up
We are pleased to welcome Luke Rockett from Sheffield, England to this year’s edition of Survival Camp.
Luke has already made significant strides in his officiating career. Having achieved Level 3 certification from Basketball England, he currently officiates in the National League D2 and Women’s D1. His growing reputation was recently affirmed when he was honoured as Yorkshire Referee of the Year — a recognition of both his performance and his leadership within the refereeing community.
Northernmost FIBA Referee Karol Kowalski Joins Survival Camp 2025 as Instructor
We are pleased to announce that Karol Kowalski, a distinguished FIBA referee from Rovaniemi, Finland, will be joining Survival Camp 2025 as an instructor.
Karol began his refereeing journey in 2004 and earned his Top Finnish Men’s League license in 2015. In 2019, he achieved FIBA certification, solidifying his standing in international basketball officiating. With over 280 domestic games officiated to date, he has also served as a mentor for Top League referees in Finland since 2022.
Every Day Higher and Further: Maks Gosztyła, referee from Poland, Heads to Survival Camp 2025
We are pleased to announce that Maks Gosztyła, a referee from Kraków, will be joining us at Survival Camp 2025.
At just 21 years old, Maks is entering his fourth season as a referee, officiating within the Kraków region in Poland. Born and raised in the city, his journey with basketball began thanks to his uncle, who introduced him to the game through vintage NBA posters — a moment that sparked a lasting passion.