Kenyan eGamers appeal for help ahead of debut at global championship in Turkey

The Esports Kenya Federation is calling on the government and potential sponsors to come to their aid ahead of their maiden appearance at the Global Esports Championship set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey from 14 to 17 December 2022.

The newly formed federation shall be presenting an eight-member team to the championships entering its second edition with Team Kenya taking part in three categories.

The Kenyan team, which was named on Wednesday by the CEO Joseph Ojwang, will feature in eFootball PES, Street Fighter V, which are played on PlayStation 5, and dota2 on the PC category.

Kenyatta University trio of Shirley Adema (captain), Yvonne Nkatha and Elinah Kemunto is joined by Barbara Maush of Strathmore University, Maria Kiuru of Horizon Esports and Magdalene Mumbi of Alpha Clan in the women’s dota 2 team, which is a 5v5 computer game.

The Kenyan ladies will be the only Africans drawn in the dota 2 category after Namibia withdrew from the qualifiers and will face Argentina, New Zealand, Great Britain, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and hosts Turkey in their debut at the global stage.

Marion Muthoni will take part in the Street Fighter V category which has drawn participants from 41 other nations while Evander Maina will battle opponents from 55 nations in the eFootball category.

Speaking ahead of the competition, team manager Ronny Lusigi remained upbeat with the team as he called on partners to come on board and support the team.

“We have been continuing with our preparations for over a month now with the players. The morale is high and they are excited to feature at the global stage. Our major challenge has been on funds because it has been hard always training as a team. We have tried talking to the government but so far, nothing positive has come out of it,” he told Mozzart Sport.

The team is scheduled to depart the country on 13 December.