Manchester City has announced a new regional partnership with SportyBet. The agreement will see SportyBet become the Club’s Official Betting Partner in Africa.

SportyBet is a brand of Sporty Group, a global sports entertainment and technology company, and it is a pan-African market leader with licensed operations throughout Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Widely recognised as the most innovative betting platform in Africa, SportyBet delivers a world-class mobile user experience with carefully considered product design and a focus on speed and performance.

As part of the new agreement, Manchester City and SportyBet will collaborate to create co-branded content and unique experiences for customers in the region.

Kaitlyn Beale, Vice President, Global Partnership Sales, said: “We are pleased to welcome SportyBet as a new regional partner of Manchester City today. Our fanbase within Africa continues to grow, shown by the interest in our fan events and trophy tour visits to Africa in recent years, and we look forward to working with SportyBet to bring fans even closer to the club.”

Sporty Group’s Brand Director, Oluchi Enuha, said: “We are absolutely delighted to add Manchester City to our list of partners. Manchester City has consistently proven to be one of the most exciting teams in Europe. Their exciting brand of football and dynamic players perfectly represent the type of entertainment Sporty Group aspires to bring to their customers in Africa. We believe this is just the beginning of a uniquely innovative collaboration which we believe will elevate both brands in Africa.”

Esports, or electronic sports, has become a global phenomenon, with millions of people tuning in to watch competitive video game matches online or in person. As the popularity of esports continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to encourage diversity and inclusivity in the industry, particularly in terms of gender.

Since 2009 Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has had an active policy to increase female representation in esports. This is important for a number of reasons. First, it is simply a matter of fairness and equality. Women should have the same opportunities to compete and succeed in esports as men. By promoting gender diversity in the industry, we can help to break down barriers and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.

However, as MSSA President, Colin Webster, stated, “There are also practical reasons why having more females play esports is important. For one, it can help to grow the industry. Women make up a significant portion of the gaming market, and by tapping into this market, esports organizations and companies can reach a wider audience and increase their revenue streams.”

Webster added, “Additionally, having more females involved in esports can help to address some of the toxic behaviors and attitudes that have plagued the industry in the past. Women have historically faced harassment and discrimination in the gaming world, but by promoting gender diversity and inclusion, we can help to create a more welcoming and supportive community.”

There are also potential benefits to individual female players. By participating in esports, women can gain valuable skills and experience in areas such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving as well as earn Regional, provincial, and National Colours that may help such females obtain bursaries in order to study further. These skills can then be applied to other areas of their lives, such as their careers or personal relationships.

However, increasing female representation in esports is not without its challenges as MSSA is painfully aware. Women are still underrepresented in the industry, and those who do participate often face a range of barriers and obstacles. Some of these include online harassment and discrimination, a lack of female role models and mentors, and limited opportunities for sponsorship and funding.

MSSA faced very stiff opposition from many gamers, some of them who even have daughters, over the years when promoting its policies of enablement and inclusion.

To address these challenges, MSSA has always taken proactive steps to promote gender diversity and inclusion. This has included initiatives of providing incentives and creating real and credible upward movement. MSSA is the only esports national federation, world-wide with 40% of its Board consisting of female Board Members.

In conclusion, increasing female representation in esports is not only a matter of fairness and equality, but also a practical way to grow the industry and create a more inclusive and supportive community. By taking proactive steps to promote gender diversity and inclusion, we can help to build a better future for esports and for everyone involved in it.

With South Africa’s National Team Trials, to be held on 25 March 2023, quickly approaching, excitement among Registered Players is reaching an all time high.

It is  thus welcome news that International Esports Federation (IESF) has just informed Mind Sports South Africa of the number of slots for Africa for IESF’s 15th World Esports Championships (WEC 23′) to be held in August in Iasi, Romania.

The slot distribution for WEC 23′ is divided per registered country per continent, and we would like to inform you that Africa acquired a total number of 13 out of the 82 slots for the following games:

• CSGO – 3
• Dota 2 – 2
• Mobile Legends Bang Bang – 3
• PUBG Mobile – 3
• CSGO Female – 2

IESF has also advised MSSA that all African National Federations that have registered athletes for Tekken and Efootbal get a direct slot.

Thus with MSSA having so registered for both Tekken and Efootball, the Registered Player selected by MSSA at its National Team titles for these two esports titles will go straight through to lovely Iasi and not have to fight it out in an African regional Qualifier.

The last chance for athletes to qualify for National Team Trials is:

• 2023 Gauteng Online Championships to be held on 11 March 2023.

All those entering National Team Trials are again reminded to have valid passports on the date of such National Team Trials.