Campers

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This year, Survival Camp welcomes Jergus Valachovic, a dedicated referee from Pezinok, Slovakia. With nearly two decades of experience in officiating, Jergus brings not only a wealth of knowledge but also a deep personal story rooted in resilience, passion, and continuous learning.

Meet Maciej – a 19-year-old regional referee from Stalowa Wola (Poland) who’s about to embark on a new chapter in Kraków, both academically and officiating-wise. As he prepares to start his studies this autumn, he’s equally focused on continuing his development as a referee — a journey he began two seasons ago.

Oleh Vdoviak is charting a unique and inspiring path in basketball refereeing. Originally from Ukraine, Oleh began his referee journey not in his homeland, but in Kraków, Poland — and this year, he successfully passed the Polish Basketball Federation’s promotional exams, earning the right to officiate in both the Men’s Second League (third tier) and the Women’s First League (second tier) for the upcoming season.