Our coaching and admin team includes Navid, Georges, Cezary, Walid, Leon, Parisa, Ewa and Sandra. We run sessions in Cambourne, Northstowe and St Neots for Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 age groups. We also have several National League teams: Falcons and Kestrels.
navid@fastbreakbasketball.co.uk
Navid is a passionate and dedicated figure in the Cambridgeshire basketball community. He is a qualified and licensed table official (Level 3), referee (Level 2), and coach (Level 2), bringing a wealth of expertise to every aspect of the game. Navid has been actively coaching junior and adult players since September 2018. His coaching journey has spanned across several teams, including the Cambourne Raptors Juniors, Cambourne Falcons U14 National League, Northstowe Kites, St Neots Eagles, and St Ives Falcons.
Navid was also a founding member of the Cambourne Raptors, established in 2016, where he served as the club’s Chairman until 2023. His leadership was instrumental in building the club from the ground up and establishing a strong foundation for basketball in the region.
As the Director of Fastbreak Basketball, Navid is deeply committed to promoting grassroots basketball, ensuring that the sport is accessible to everyone in the Cambridgeshire area. His dedication has helped countless players develop their skills and passion for the game.
In the 2024/25 season, Navid will take on the role of Head Coach for the St Neots Eagles, where he aims to elevate the club's visibility and community impact. Additionally, he will continue to provide valuable support as an assistant to the U18 National League Cambourne Falcons team.
Navid’s ongoing contributions to basketball, both on and off the court, reflect his unwavering dedication to the sport and his community.
Cezary is our Game Delegate for our home matches. He is a Level 2 Basketball England referee and is becoming a Level 2 Coach. He is one of the main referees for the Fastbreak League and regularly referees games for the Cambridge University College League. He will be helping with running U12 National League team in 2024/25 season.
My dad introduced me to basketball after a failed try-out for a youth football team in my hometown, Gdańsk. I was seven years old back then and haven’t looked back since. I got the privilege of learning to play under some great coaches as I progressed through a plethora of junior teams (10–18 years of age), with much success at both regional and national levels in Poland. At the age of 19, I had to choose whether to try my luck in playing professionally or leave to study abroad. I chose the latter, which began a new basketball journey. Between 2006 and 2009 I played for University College London, including serving as President of the Men’s Basketball Club for two years, before playing for Cardiff University in Wales during my Master’s degree.
After moving to Cambridge, I played in the University College League, first captaining the WT/CRUK Gurdon Institute, finishing top of the league in three consecutive seasons; and, more recently, Wolfson College, winning the Cuppers competition in 2022. I have played for the Cambourne Raptors Men’s Senior team since 2018 and was given the team’s MVP award in 2019 and 2020.
My passion for the game remains as strong as ever, which is why I’m currently training to become a Level 2 coach. As my friends know (probably all too well), I’m a devout supporter of the Boston Celtics. Having enjoyed playing basketball for nearly 30 years, I feel it’s now time for me to give back to the game and inspire the next generations. I look forward to sharing my knowledge, experience and passion with the Fastbreak Basketball community!
Georges is an experienced skills development basketball coach with a wealth of talents harvesting aptitude of basketball athletes to teach them intermediate to advance individual skills and team concepts.
In the U.K. - Georges played National Men’s Div. 2 and 3. Accomplishing the feature of team leading scorer for many years in Division 3 whilst maintaining high level defence and demonstrating a penchant intellectual understanding of the game.
He will be helping with U18 National League team in 2024/25 season and he has been helping with our various community clubs including Cambourne U15 and U17 sessions.
leon@fastbreakbasketbalk.co.uk
I am currently a Professor in Performance (Knowledge Exchange) at the University of the Arts London (UAL), where I integrate cutting-edge technology with established performance, art and design practices to train the next generation of creatives. My academic pursuits are matched by my passion for basketball, where I have been coaching youth basketball for the past three years. Holding a Level 2 Coaching License, I bring a technical and analytical approach to the game, focusing on developing players’ skills and understanding of basketball strategy. My experience spans working with diverse teams, helping players improve their performance both on and off the court. As a lifelong learner and educator, I aim to inspire my players by example, emphasising dedication, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. I am thrilled to be a part of this dynamic community, contributing to our shared goals and successes on the basketball court.
Walid is a Level 2 Club Coach. He has a wealth of playing experience and has volunteered to transfer his knowledge to his local community. In 2024 season, he will be running our advanced technical skills sessions from September.
I grew up in Tunisia and started playing basketball when I was 9 years old. My dad is a football coach so I grew up with a coaching mindset.
I played competitively in a national level club and we won the Tunisia Junior championship twice.
I played in Wessex League D1 2017-2019 and we were runners up twice in the playoffs.
Basketball is a very fun game to play. I learned a lot from it as a player, not only on the court, but off the court as well. It taught me how to be a better human being, to care about the feelings of teammates, to control my emotions in difficult situations, to be patient, to push myself to the limit and to think before acting.
I'm looking forward to learning more about the game as a coach.
Parisa has recently earned a degree in International Hospitality Management and is excited to apply her skills to the world of sports. With a strong background in hospitality and management, Parisa looks forward to enhancing the club's operations and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all members. Her enthusiasm and fresh perspective are sure to make a positive impact! Having played basketball as a child she is keen to encourage more females to play basketball.
