Mehdi Gashi, one of the special figures of Kosovar basketball, retires

Mehdi Gashi has trouble describing in a few words his life dedicated to basketball, especially his period as a referee.

"Maybe a 24-hour show is needed to reveal my entire career and to know more about me during my time as a player, referee and most recently as an observer," says Gashi, for whom the Kosovo Basketball Federation awarded him a retirement award on Wednesday night.

Gashi was most recently engaged as an observer of basketball games. But he is known for his service as a basketball referee, a career he began on March 13, 1983.

"On March 13, 2013, after 30 years, I was greeted as a judge in Gjakova," he tells KOHA.

Gashi boasts about the work he has done as a basketball referee, but also as an observer. Gashi has been one of the main referees in Kosovar basketball for many years. On rare occasions, his decisions have been challenged. He is known as an authoritative, but also close referee.

"I had a great time both as a referee and as an observer. I ate bread, but I left my seat for water in basketball. Everything I saw, I referred. I did not let any team down for my mistakes. It is normal that some mistakes were made, but not intentionally. I am satisfied, because with my head held high I go to all the gyms in Kosovo. I am very well received in all the gyms," the 65-year-old emphasized.

It shows that on occasions he had to dispense justice in two different cities within the same day.

"Only God knows how many games I have refereed as a basketball referee. There have been two games in one day that I have refereed. I have dispensed justice in games for basketball players, new generations."

When it comes to new generations, Gashi is proud of the number of judges he has produced. He says that around 60 judges have emerged from his hands in the post-war period in Kosovo.

"I'm proud that all the judges still receive advice from me. I'm thinking about still bringing out new judges," he says.

Gashi was honored with gratitude by the Federation, but says he still has the energy to contribute to basketball.

"I hope the Federation doesn't fire me. I think I can still contribute for five or ten years. I can play the role of a controller. I can no longer be an observer, due to my 65-year-old retirement age. But I can contribute to controlling the referees. So I can evaluate the referees with grades after each match," said Mehdi Gashi.

The observer, Sabri Parduzi, also a contributor to Kosovo basketball, was also honored with gratitude by the FBK.