Our coaching and admin team includes Navid, Elias, Cezary, Leon, Jonathan, Ewa, Parisa, Walid 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 is a passionate and dedicated figure in the Cambridgeshire basketball community. Though basketball is his personal passion, his professional background is equally impressive. Navid holds a PhD in Image Processing and has spent over 24 years working in the mobile communications industry as a hands-on Technical Software Development Engineer. His analytical mindset, problem-solving ability, and leadership experience in the tech world bring a unique strength to his coaching and organisational roles in basketball.
Navid is a qualified and licensed Level 3 Table Official, Level 2 Referee, and Level 2 Coach, offering a broad and in-depth perspective of the game. He has actively coached junior and adult players since 2018, with roles across Cambourne Raptors Juniors, Cambourne Falcons U14 National League, Northstowe Kites, St Neots Eagles, and St Ives Falcons.
A founding member of the Cambourne Raptors in 2016, Navid served as the club’s Chairman until 2023. His vision and leadership helped lay a strong foundation for basketball in the region, nurturing its growth from the grassroots up.
As Director of Fastbreak Basketball, Navid is deeply committed to making basketball more accessible and inclusive across Cambridgeshire. His focus is on creating pathways for all players—regardless of background or ability—to enjoy and grow through the sport.
In the 2026/27 season, Navid will take on the role of Head of the U16 Programmes in the club. He will be the head coach for U16 Cambridge Kestrels. He will also continue supporting the St Neots Eagles.
His dual passion for technology and sport makes him a role model both on and off the court.
Cezary is our Game Delegate for our home matches. He is a Level 2 Basketball England referee and coach. He is one of the main referees for the Fastbreak League and referees games across East Anglia.
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 played for the Cambourne Raptors Men’s Senior team (2018-2024) and currently play for the East Cambs Warriors, being named the team’s MVP in 2024/5 season.
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!
I've been a Cambridge resident for over 20 years and hold a PhD in Neuroscience from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. I currently work as an Associate Professor at the University of London, where my research focuses on mental health disorders and cognitive enhancement. I've also had the great pleasure of working with Ford Performance for over a decade. My basketball journey started in Greece, where I trained in the academies of Democritus Basketball Club in Xanthi — a club competing in the third division of the Greek professional league at that time. In the UK I played and coached for the University of Luton and Essex. During my PhD at Cambridge, I played in the University team for two years and then coached the Cambridge Lions we won back-to-back varsity matches against Oxford. I also had a wonderful time coaching Hughes Hall College to two consecutive cup finals. With the Under 14s, my goal is simple — to help every player grow their skills in shooting, passing, and dribbling, build confidence and mental resilience, and most importantly, to have a great time doing it. Basketball is a wonderful game and I want every session to feel that way!
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.
Ewa is a Level 2 basketball coach and the driving force behind our St Neots Eagles Basketball Club. Passionate about player development and community growth, she’s focused on taking the club to the next level by expanding training opportunities and building additional teams to give more players the chance to enjoy the game and reach their potential. She also helps with U14 girls team and U10 mixed sessions in Cambourne. Here is what she says about herself.
Hi, I’m Ewa – born and raised in Poland, and a lifelong sports enthusiast with a deep passion for table tennis. I fell in love with this sport at just 8 years old, and my dedication led me to the Polish Table Tennis Academy and the Senior 1st Division team. A serious wrist injury at 18 changed the course of my journey, but after multiple surgeries, long rehab, and a lot of determination, I returned to the sport I love – this time as a para athlete representing Poland internationally (Class 10).
Alongside competing, I’m also a passionate coach. I'm a Level 2 Lead Table Tennis Coach, working with players in Cambourne and St Neots.
More recently, I’ve found a new challenge in basketball – currently coaching at St Neots, and recently completed my Level 2 coaching award, and also a qualified Level 2 Table Official.
Whether it’s on the court or at the table, I’m all about sharing knowledge, inspiring others, and proving that with perseverance, anything is possible.
jonathany@fastbreakbasketball.co.uk
I have been playing basketball for over nine years. Before moving to England, I spent four years in Hong Kong playing street basketball, where I developed my game through experience and regular play without formal coaching. After moving to England, I began playing club basketball and was introduced to structured coaching for the first time, which significantly developed my understanding of the game both individually and within a team setting. Since then, I have competed at both U16 and U18 National League level. At 18 years old, I joined the Cambourne Raptors men’s local league team as my first experience in men’s basketball, becoming the youngest player on the roster while starting at point guard. I am also looking forward to competing again in the local league with East Cambs in the 2026/27 season. Alongside playing, I have built coaching experience across the club, including multiple seasons as Assistant Coach within the U16 National League programme and most recently with the U14 National League team. I have also supported skill development sessions to help players improve fundamentals and basketball IQ. I am currently completing my Level 1 Referee qualification, progressing toward Level 2, and working through my Level 2 coaching course. In the future, I plan to take a gap year before attending Nottingham Trent University to study Sport Management BA, where I also aim to compete within the university’s BUCS basketball programme (first or second team). As a coach, I focus on spacing, attacking gaps, strong fundamentals, and defensive intensity. I believe strong defence can change a game completely, and I aim to build teams that play with energy, discipline, confidence, and strong teamwork on both ends of the 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.
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.
parisa@fastbreakbasketball.co.uk
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.
