From Kisumu to the international stage: How Brian Lusaga made FIBA history

The Kisumu-based teacher has made history as the first Kenyan male referee to earn a FIBA 3x3 Class C International Referee Licence, capping years of involvement in basketball as a team manager, administrator, referee and trainer.

For Brian Lusaga, the whistle has become a passport to a new level of basketball.

The Kisumu-based teacher has made history as the first Kenyan male referee to earn a FIBA 3x3 Class C International Referee Licence, capping years of involvement in basketball as a team manager, administrator, referee and trainer.

But Lusaga's journey to the international stage began long before the FIBA qualification.

Building a career around basketball

Between 2017 and 2022, Lusaga managed Lakeside Basketball Team under Pacho 360, gaining experience in team management and the organisation of competitive basketball.

His involvement later expanded into 3x3 basketball, where he became the regional coordinator for BingwaFest 3x3, helping organise competitions and promote the fast-growing format in the region.

At the same time, Lusaga continued developing his career as a referee.

He currently serves as the Kenya Basketball Referees Association (KBRA) Nyanza Region Referee Coordinator and is a member of the KBRA Nominations Committee.

He has officiated at the KSSSA and FEASSA Games and also works as a referee trainer for the Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Sports Association.

His role has therefore grown beyond officiating matches to helping develop and coordinate other officials.

The teacher behind the whistle

Away from the court, Lusaga is a teacher at Ngere Boys Senior School in Kisumu County.

His interest in athlete development has also extended into academic research. He has co-authored research on sports psychology and athlete development, including a 2023 publication on sports confidence among high school athletes.

His work in education and sport has given him a unique perspective on developing both athletes and officials.

The FIBA breakthrough

Years of experience have now culminated in Lusaga earning the FIBA 3x3 Class C International Referee Licence.

The qualification opens the door to international 3x3 officiating and represents a major step in his progression from grassroots and school competitions to the global stage.

For Lusaga, the achievement also brings his 3x3 journey full circle — from helping organise competitions to earning the credentials to officiate them at international level.

His story is ultimately one of gradual progression: from managing a basketball team in Kisumu, to organising competitions, officiating games, training referees and now earning a place on the international refereeing pathway.

The whistle that started on local courts could now take Brian Lusaga far beyond Kisumu.