In a significant milestone for Nagaland’s basketball community, Salew Kadete and Seyievizo Kire have become the first BFI B-Level Referees from Nagaland, as announced during the BFI Annual General Meeting in Chennai.
This certification comes after rigorous assessment during the 49th Sub Junior National Basketball Championship in Puducherry in 2023. The exam evaluates referees on knowledge, decision-making, physical condition, and practical skills.
Salew Kadete gained national attention at the 68th Senior Nationals in Chennai in 2018, subsequently leading his team at the 71st Senior Nationals in Shillong in 2022, and the 73rd Senior Nationals in Ludhiana, Punjab in 2023. Kadete also earned a silver medal at the Northeast Games in Shillong in 2022 and a bronze medal at the Northeast Games in Nagaland in 2024. “His success in the B-Level Referee exam is a testament to his deep understanding of the game,” an update from the Nagaland Basketball Association said.
Meanwhile, Seyievizo Kire first made his mark at the Senior Nationals in Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad in 2019 and continued to represent Nagaland at the northeast zonal nationals in Shillong in 2022 and Mizoram in 2023. Kire was also the vice-captain of the Nagaland Senior team at the Senior Nationals in Punjab, Ludhiana in 2023 and captained his team to a bronze medal at the Northeast Games in Nagaland in 2024.
Both Kadete and Kire also won silver medals at the North East Games in Shillong in 2022. Congratulating the duo, the Nagaland Basketball Association said, “Their extensive experience and accomplishments in various tournaments have equipped them with a profound understanding of basketball, which they will bring to their roles as B-Level Panel Referees,” NBA said.