Born and raised in the suburb of Raiwaqa where basketball is a popular sport, Fiji's top referee Timoci Namalo aims to conduct more referees clinic around Fiji and especially his home (Raiwaqa).

The Rewa native began his referee’s career back in 1999 where he injured his shoulders while playing rugby and basketball in raiwaqa. Namalo who had the heart for the sport did not want his injury to be the barrier, but decided to take up the whistle rather than play.

Basketball Fiji Chief of Operations Officer Laisiasa Puamau said "Jim Namalo is Fiji's No.1 Referee in Fiji and has attained the necessary accreditations and experience from officiating in major tournaments in Fiji and on the International scene. 

Mr. Namalo has officiated in various International Tournaments and was selected by the federation to officiate at the 2011 Pacific Games.  Since 2011 Mr. Namalo has not looked back and has steadily developed to be the top whistle blower in Fiji. In 2011, Mr. Namalo received his FIBA level 2 badge in Noumea, New Caledonia, and later renewed and extended at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship in Porirua, New Zealand. Following his outstanding performance at the event, FIBA selected him as representative of Oceania to officiate at the 2014 World Championships in Czech Republic.  Mr. Namalo has recently returned from officiating at the 2015 FIBA in Oceania U16 Championships in NZ and Pacific Games in PNG.

His aim is to share his experience by conducting clinics and training to other players and referees in the country. For the Raiwaqa Basketball Association member and with his 16 years experience, his ultimate goal is to establish a Referees Association in Fiji and to ensure that referees are equipped with the credentials to officiate at the National and International level.

Mr. Namalo is a Police Constable and was recruited in 2011 through the community police initiative as part of a partnership between the Fiji Police Force, Raiwaqa Basketball Players Association and Basketball Fiji.

Namalo started his basketball career at Latter Day Saints Collage and develop further with his club Bryce and is currently playing for the newly form Senibua Club registered to the Raiwaqa Basketball Players Association. He was also part of the Fiji U22 team for the 1998 Oceania Games. Mr. Namalo is married and has two children and admits that he looks forward to sharing his knowledge with the rest of the basketball community.