The African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL), The Toyota Gaming Engine and FIFA eSports eKasi all collaborated to help organise two schools in Strand’s townships to select the top eight Playstation gamers for a Fifa 23 face-off on Saturday 15 April.
Solomon Qatyana Primary School hosted the event, which saw them compete with neighbouring school Christmas Tinto Primary, in a duel between the top eight gamers from each school. It was also the first such event to be hosted between the schools.
Sinethemba Nojoko, who works as administrator for Kasi eSports (the developing gaming club), explained Kasi Gamers is a group of passionate gamers from the township who work in collaboration with ACGL and The Toyota Gaming Engine to make gaming accessible to everyone.
“The aim is to discover raw talent, gamers who have potential to be Pro Gamers,” he said. “We started this initiative in September last year when we started running eSports Tournaments in the townships of Strand, which are open for all to enter. A great number of learners at primary schools between ages 11 and 14 expressed interest as well as teenagers.”
Nojoko elaborated that the first of many tournaments helped create a build-up to the finale. Kasi Gamers eventually hosted top eight qualifiers from both Solomon Qatyana and Christmas Tinto schools, and Saturday 15 April was the final. “The grand prize was R1 000 cash and a Reddragon backpack,” Nojoko said. “The gamers of Christmas Tinto Primary dominated the tournament by eliminating most of their rivals at Solomon Qatyana. In the final it was Thandolwethu Qolombeni vs Liyema Goniwe, and Thandolwethu was the winner and best gamer.
“It was great to witness all these boys shining from the qualifiers right up to the final. The top three boys will be integrated into the Kasi Gamers group and become part of this development gaming team from the township. They will travel with the senior players and also learn from them.
“But for now the rivalry will continue between the two schools and we hope that at the next eSport Tournament we see other schools become part of this wonderful project.”
