Showing posts with label Proteas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proteas. Show all posts

Saturday, 21 March 2026

Proteas match against Mongolia is being streamed at 7H45.


The South African Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 is currently at the GEG25 in Mumbai, India and are battling it out against some of the finest teams in the world.

The team has already beaten Argentina and unfortunately lost to Turkiye.

The team is now to take on the might of Mongolia...

The South African Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 consists of:

  • Matthew "bee" Raubach (Captain)
  • Callum "sk3p" Foster
  • Barend "Berend" van Staden
  • Lennard "remedy" Koekemoer
  • Suhail "Soup" Khan

Johan van Breda (MSSA National Team Manager) said, "This is the best team that we have ever put into the field, and our team is 'pumped' and ready to go."

As usual Waylander Gaming is streaming the match on behalf of Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) on:

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:

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Friday, 20 March 2026

Mumbai to Host Global Esports Games

The South African Protea Esports Team will be one of seven teams battling it out for supremacy.

India will host the Global Esports Games in Mumbai from 19-22 March 2026, providing India's growing esports and gaming ecosystem an international stage to compete. The Global Esports Federation's flagship, Global Esports Games Mumbai, is organized by Eflag Corp with the support of Maharashtra Tourism. GEG Mumbai features 70 esports athletes from 23 countries and territories. This premier event will also feature GEFcon and GEFestival.

After successful editions in Singapore, Istanbul, and Riyadh, the Global Esports Games, the international national-team esports championship, makes its South Asia debut with India hosting the World Finals in Mumbai. The tournament will witness leading esports nations competing in DOTA 2 and Clash Royale. The national teams of leading esports nations like Argentina, Australia, the USA, Great Britain, Indonesia, and Türkiye will compete alongside India and teams from 16 more countries and territories, marking a significant milestone for India as it steps onto the global stage as a host of one of esports’ most prestigious international competitions. The global broadcast reach is projected at 40 million+ viewers.

The programme will feature a Grand Opening Ceremony, GEFCon, GEFestival, fan experiences and meet-ups, playoffs, the grand finale, and medal and trophy presentations, before concluding with a ceremonial handover to Los Angeles for the Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games in December 2026.

The Global Esports Games Mumbai is expected to catalyse investment across broadcast production, tournament operations, digital content creation, and youth skilling, reinforcing India’s emergence as a global esports destination.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and senior state ministers, will inaugurate the event. Shri Devendra Fadnavis said, “The future will be shaped by technology, innovation, and digital ecosystems. We are proud that India will host the Global Esports Games, welcoming athletes from around the world to Mumbai. By bringing together sport, technology, and youth talent, this event further strengthens our position as an emerging global hub for digital innovation.”

Sir Paul J. Foster, KStJH, President and CEO, Global Esports Federation, said, “India represents one of the most dynamic growth stories in global esports, and there is no city better suited to host our flagship event than Mumbai. This is a city powered by youth, creativity, and innovation, the same forces shaping the future of esports worldwide. Hosting the Global Esports Games here is about more than competition; it’s about opportunity, connection, and reinforcing our belief that esports is for all.”

Shripad Ashtekar, Founder, Eflag Corp, added, “We are committed to strengthening India’s esports ecosystem and are glad to bring the GEG World Finals to Mumbai, India. This move marks a significant milestone as it will foster talent development, innovation, and global competitiveness while accelerating the rise of homegrown talent, showcasing India’s capabilities on the global esports stage.”

India’s esports market is set to triple from $38 million in FY25 to $132 million by FY30, growing at a 26% CAGR (BITKRAFT-Redseer Report). The ecosystem includes 2.8 million competitive esports players, 40 professional teams, and nearly 20 major game titles.

Additional reading:

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Monday, 9 February 2026

Protea DotA 2 Esports team heads towards GEG25 in Mumbai.

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.

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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Sunday, 8 February 2026

Whether 'tis fear....

 

The impressive Matthew Raubach (Capt.) of the Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title.

On Saturday, 7 February 2026, South Africa was drawn against both Botswana and Zambia 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.

Unfortunately neither team pitched at the allotted time and the South African Protea Esports Team for the DotA 2 esports title were credited with the wins.

No-one is ever happy to  take a win this way - especially when South Africa has such a strong team, but maybe that's why they didn't show....

Today, Sunday, 8 February 2026, the team, clad in battle gear are ready for their two opponents being Namibia at 16H00 and Malawi at 21H00.

The Protea DotA2 Esports Team is as follows:

TitleNameClubNickProvince
DotA 2
Matthew Raubach (Capt.)ZAG AcademybeeGauteng
Callum FosterZAG Academysk3pWestern Cape
Lennard KoekemoerZAG AcademyremedyGauteng
Berend van StadenZAG AcademyBerendGauteng
Suhail KhanZAG AcademySoupGauteng
ManagerJohan van BredaZAG Academy-Gauteng

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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Even Titans fall!

Zaid Williams (Protea Team Member) gave it his all and finished in the top eight.

In esports, thousands of players grind every day hoping to get noticed. Most of them are talented, but only a few ever reach the competitive level. The difference is not always skill—often it is strategy. Being an unknown player does not mean you are doomed. It simply means you must approach your improvement and exposure more intelligently than players who already have attention.

Success in esports is built through a combination of performance, consistency, and visibility. If you can develop all three, you can turn yourself from an anonymous ranked player into someone teams take seriously.

Thus, top esports athletes can never rest on their laurels. There is always a David to a Goliath, and sometimes there are even several Davids!

So it was on 7 February 2026 when Zaid Williams took to the field!

Zaid went down to Burkina Faso, then won against the DR Congo, and then, only to lose against Lesotho to have to bow out of the championship while in the top eight.

Although disappointed, Zaid stated, "I’ll take it as a lesson, I’ll do even better in the next one!"

Fighting talk indeed, and this is exactly what MSSA expects in terms of the character of its top Protea Esports athletes.

The games were streamed by Waylander Gaming, and can still be seen on: https://youtube.com/@waylander_gaming

In conclusion, unknown players can succeed in esports, but it requires more than talent. You need proof of skill, experience in competitive settings, a reputation for reliability, and a presence that makes it easy for others to notice you.

Climb ranked with consistency, compete in tournaments, build connections, and create a clear identity as a player. Most importantly, stay disciplined long enough for your results to speak louder than your name.

In esports, being unknown is temporary—if your performance and professionalism are strong enough to force people to remember you, and remember, as Zvi Katabi would always say, " When you are sleeping, someone else is training...".

Additional reading:

Athlete's rights:
Employment opportunities

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