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.

The championship was a last chance for many esports athletes to qualify for MSSA’s National Team Trials to be held on 25 March 2023 at which the team will be selected to officially represent South Africa at the African Qualifiers which lead up to IESF’s 15th World Esports Championships to be held in Lasi, Romania in August 2023.

All Registered Players who have finished in the top three places, or the top 20% – whichever is greater, are entitled to enter trials.

However, it must be remembered that all players must have a valid passport at the date of entry.

It was indeed exciting to watch just how much all the female teams have improved.

White Rabbit Gaming Club’s (WRG) female team astounded all with their skill and sportsmanship. The team demolished all the female opposition and narrowly lost to the male team which ultimately won the premier event.

It is expected that the selection process for the esports title will be hotly contested.

Other female teams that excelled are:

• Roedean College – League of Legends, and
• Northcliff High School – Mobile Legends: Bang, Bang

The high standard of play saw a number of Registered Players being awarded Provincial Colours. Only Limpopo and Northern Cape did not have rRegistered Players who did not earn provincial colours.

The winners are as follows: