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| Again Matthew Raubach (Capt.) of the Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title had to witness two teams forfeit instead of honourably take to the field. |
Notwithstanding our article published "Whether 'tis fear...." about both Botswana and Zambia failing to turn up to do battle against South Africa's mighty Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title in the Reqional Qualifiers for Global Esports Federation's (GEF) GEG25 World Finals to be held in Mumbai, India, from 26 February to 1 March 2026, Namibia and Malawi too failed to turn up.
It seems as though when faced with doing battle against South Africa's Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title, other sub Saharan teams would rather just forfeit.
While a victory remains a victory, this underscores a problem in esports, and perhaps even a greater mindset problem.
The Problem With Teams Forfeiting Matches Instead of Losing
In competitive esports, losing is normal. Every team, no matter how strong, eventually faces defeat. But in recent years, one habit has become more common and more damaging to the competitive scene: teams forfeiting matches rather than playing them out and accepting the loss.
At first glance, forfeiting may look like a quick solution. Maybe the team is frustrated, unprepared, tilted, or dealing with internal conflict. But when a team chooses to forfeit instead of competing, it sends a message—not only to opponents, but also to fans, tournament organizers, and the esports community as a whole.
And that message is rarely a good one.
Forfeiting Shows a Lack of Competitive Integrity
Esports is built on competition. The entire purpose of a tournament is to test teams under pressure and determine who performs better. When a team forfeits, they remove the most important part of the sport: the contest itself.
No one expects a team to win every time, but people do expect them to show up and fight. Even if the result seems obvious, playing the match is part of the responsibility of being a competitive team.
Forfeiting is not just quitting the match—it is quitting the challenge.
It Disrespects Opponents Who Prepared
Behind every match is preparation. Opponents practice strategies, review gameplay, and plan their approach. Coaches and analysts invest time. Players stay disciplined to be ready. Even small teams put effort into showing up.
When a team forfeits, it wastes all of that.
Winning by forfeit does not feel like a real victory. It denies the opposing team the chance to prove themselves and improve. It turns what should have been a meaningful match into an empty result.
In competitive environments, respect is earned through effort. Forfeiting throws that respect away.
It Damages the Tournament and the Fan Experience
Tournaments rely on structure. Schedules, broadcasts, brackets, and audience engagement all depend on matches actually happening. When a team forfeits, it disrupts everything.
Fans tune in expecting competition. They want to see the best plays, the clutch moments, and the storylines. A forfeit kills excitement instantly. It leaves the audience disappointed and makes the event look unprofessional.
Esports already struggles with being taken seriously in some circles. Frequent forfeits only reinforce the stereotype that esports lacks maturity compared to traditional sports.
It Hurts the Team’s Reputation More Than a Loss Ever Could
Some teams forfeit because they think losing will look embarrassing. But forfeiting is usually far worse for a team’s image.
A loss can be explained: the opponent played better, the draft was wrong, mistakes were made. But a forfeit suggests something deeper—poor leadership, lack of discipline, or emotional instability.
Sponsors and organizations pay attention to this. If a team cannot handle defeat, they become a risky investment. A forfeit can create long-term damage to a brand, while a loss is simply part of the journey.
In many cases, losing honorably earns more respect than forfeiting ever will.
Losing is How Teams Improve
One of the most overlooked facts in esports is that losing is valuable. Losses expose weaknesses. They show what strategies fail. They teach teams how to adapt under pressure.
A forfeit removes that learning opportunity. Instead of gathering data and experience, the team avoids the problem. This creates a cycle where the same mistakes keep happening because they are never confronted in real matches.
Championship teams are not built by avoiding defeat. They are built by surviving it, studying it, and growing stronger because of it.
Forfeiting Often Reveals Poor Leadership
When teams repeatedly forfeit, it usually points to internal issues. Maybe communication is weak. Maybe the coach has lost control. Maybe players do not respect each other. Whatever the reason, forfeiting is often the symptom of a deeper failure in leadership and team culture.
A strong team does not collapse after one bad scrim, one bad draft, or one lost round. They adjust, refocus, and continue playing. The ability to stay composed when things go wrong is one of the most important traits in competitive success.
A forfeit is a sign that the team lacks that strength.
There Are Valid Reasons—But They Should Be Rare
To be fair, forfeiting is not always unjustified. Emergencies happen. Internet outages, health issues, or serious personal situations can make playing impossible.
But these cases should be rare and clearly communicated. When forfeiting becomes a habit, it stops being a necessity and becomes an excuse.
The esports community can understand unavoidable problems. What it cannot respect is a team forfeiting simply because they are tilted, unmotivated, or afraid of losing.
Conclusion
Forfeiting a match is not the same as losing. Losing is part of competition. Forfeiting is avoiding it.
Teams that forfeit damage their reputation, disrespect their opponents, weaken tournaments, disappoint fans, and deny themselves the most important part of improvement: experience under pressure.
If esports wants to grow as a serious industry, teams must start treating competition with seriousness too. Winning matters, but so does showing up. Even in defeat, professionalism and effort are what separate real competitors from teams that were never built to last.
Because in the end, a loss can teach you something.
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