 It's also boosted by the fact that it is a regional tech hub. Now this year that growth is expected to triple or if not to increase among the Kenyan population with many youths picking up the sport. Now on set with me this lovely afternoon I have three players, some of them will be participating, of course all of them will be participating in the forthcoming E-League 1 qualifiers. Of course the Nairobi region finals were over and they all participated in that particular championship and we're here to speak about that particular championship and also how they anticipate to participate, how they look forward to participating in the national finals which of course will be key with only one person or one winner going on to represent the country at this year's E-League 1 championship that's in Paris, France. Some Banado kumu and of course I'm joined on set by three esports enthusiasts as well as players and on my immediate right I'll start with Josh Agutu or Jojo Dipei and of course on my immediate left is Eric, not Eric Ngege but Hari Tuku, Hari Tuku Kapa is the nickname and of course Eric Ngege Demon. Now two familiar with Demon as well as Jojo Dipei and of course Kapa two players that have really stacked their name in the game of esports and let's begin with what's on the table here and that's about last weekend's Nairobi regional finals and of course Kapa did Trump in that particular one beating Demon. Demon is the defending champion he did represent the country in last year's event so how about that but let's begin with this general question we've seen in my intro I talked about the exponential growth of esports right and of course this goes with the efforts that the office you know they're doing to put in place the regulatory framework or policies to make sure that the sport benefits not nobody else but you the player right so I'll begin with the deeper maybe your thoughts on how the efforts being done by the federations to make sure that the sport pays and also players are taken care of the wealth of players are taken care of properly yeah so I think most importantly is the tournaments index G through tournaments people come and play that attracts many people when they are prize pool prize pools a lot of money is put forth like 100k 50k this really attracts players who have been training yeah I think through that a lot of players come to the country from ambassador Kuru they come to play and and some praises yes indeed yes kapa what what you thought on how the things are falling in place in terms of managing the game I know you're a player but this is key to personally me I think that we should put more tournaments here as you said more tournaments attract many other players to come and get the exposure that they need yeah get the exposure that they need to show up their skill and become better players yeah yes demon you've been around you know and maybe one of the players who just saw the federation when it was just a briefcase you know just two people three people running in but here we are you know a senior government officials attending the the championships that means something right yeah it means a lot especially the past maybe six months they have been more consistent tournaments so you know every month there is there is a tournament so you train for it and it really encourages gamers to to take it as a even a career because you earn some money that helps you in your daily livelihood yeah yes and again we'll talk about your participation in last in last weekend's finals Nairobi region finals right how how would you overly how would you rate the how it was you know the big turnout as well as kapa flow you know being the new champion how how was it oh it was a really nice experience it had almost 300 players who attended the tournament and not even counting for mombasa nakuru which had even other players and so Nairobi was taking four players from Nairobi and we managed to to qualify for the tournament which is this Saturday yeah yes kapa it was great for you to win you know after maybe how many years in the game and how important was this particular win i know there is a bigger picture coming on over the weekend but just this particular performance how would you say in how it boosts and improves you went ahead of the the finals now national finals it actually encourages me a lot because many players registered for that Nairobi qualifiers tournament i trained hard for that moment and i'm glad to be the best tunnel to be the best and that will boost boost me me to participate even better in the grand final yeah yeah jojo jojo is here all you know and gikli jojo you finished third did you expect to finish third no actually the tournament yeah i just wanted to to be among the four that was actually my goal yeah but it was a tough tournament lot of people came yeah and i was my Hari bet me So I had to play playoffs. So it was a tough game. How would you rate Hari's game? What kind of a player? I know you all on this set, but what kind of a player? He's a tough player. Zero mistakes. Pressing. He presses his opponents a lot. So I think once he presses you, you break. He's a tough player. One to watch. And I know, Dimon, you'll be digging deep to your experience, no doubt, on Saturday during the final? Yeah, of course, because I'm the defending champion. So I have the experience of winning it last time. So I'll be treating it in my game and also I'll be treating it even more harder because it's tough to win back-to-back here. Do you think that maybe your participation in France, how kusho will it be? And maybe the quality of players that you see na kina kapa and the rest? Maybe they are not among the top four, but they are very good players. I would say in Kenya there is a lot of competition, especially also the past one year. Everybody has improved and every tournament there's almost a new way nowadays. So the game is growing every day and I believe the one who will win will compete in France here. Kapa, are you already seeing the ticket to the final? I'm aware that in the final, how do you see the final being? Actually, last year Dimon beat me on the same finals. So this year I have come much stronger, more better and actually I believe I can win it. Yes, I know you've been busy preparing for the final, but what are you working on? What should you work on during the final now? Yes, what should you work on? What kind of failures do you think you need to improve on? I must be more defensively and more patient, more calm and the rest just do it itself. What are the key areas that maybe you are working on right now? I think just holding the ball and not considering the last minute of the games. I have been considering a lot of goals in the last minute, 88 there, then I end up losing the game. I think that's the most important part I should work on. Yeah, and maybe Dimon will be looking at the growth of e-sports and looking at how a number of championships have given Kenyan players a platform to better themselves. Do you think there have been enough of them? Let's say the ones that expose players to international mental standards? Okay, to be honest there have not been many, but there have been increasing with the time. Last year I think there were also three or four international tournaments and even Harikapa here had gone to Saudi Arabia for a new football tournament. So I'll say then it's a promising future and we'll see what will be coming in the next few months. Kapa, for you to pick up e-sports, a number of championships along the way, how would you rate it? How did you pick up? How did you decide that now it's no longer for just social but now getting in competitively? It actually started in 2021. That's where I met my former manager and he started encouraging me to practice more that we can earn something out of this gaming. And that encouraged me a lot. I decided to go professional and winning tournaments. When you began did you feel discouraged at some point to encourage? How was it? I felt discouraged because first four tournaments it was a loss after loss after loss. But I had to do better, be strong and now the outcome was becoming more effective. Yes, and deeply for you, when did you pick up the joystick? Actually when I was young I used to play PS a lot from PS1. But I never knew the tournaments actually. My big brother was the one who was going but I was still young. I was not exposed to the tournaments. So I was just playing old school food that time. So I started playing actually last year, 2023. So I have really grown fast. From that 2023 I didn't start well. There was a lot of banter. When you lose you have been bantered. So obviously it will be discouraged not to play. So I used to play bees with people. Like you play with them then. There was some money. I think that mostly made me grow faster. And I picked up really fast. Actually after three months I started actually won my first tournament after I think three months. From studying competitive now, I've been going going going now. I'm doing it professionally. Yes and maybe the banter you can say that did hasten your process of becoming better, did quicken it? Yes, very fast. Because when someone has bantered you, you feel bad, you feel has a lot of feelings actually. It has a lot of feelings when someone beats you always. You have a lot of feelings. So once somebody starts bantering you feel why can't I be better. So I decided just to put my head up and start working on it. And maybe is it just a Kenyan thing because now they banter you because you lost. And when you win they keep quiet? Yes, you win actually. It's very funny. When you win they all on your side. When you lose you have been bantered by everyone. It's just like that. And I think the indices that way once you lose you always bantered. When you win you are everyone's favorite. I demon for you how did it begin? Also it began in late 2019 when I started competing competitively. But before that when I was a kid I was playing in the laptop. I was playing motor combat. But it was my big brother who exposed me to the tournaments. Because when he was in university I saw him playing some friendly tournaments here with his friends. So in 2019 I went to my first tournament. And I managed to beat up 4 and that's when I picked it up. I saw the talent and I went to buy it fair. And you participated in France how big was it for you career wise? It was a big moment for me as I showcased my skills in the international stage. And also the diversity and the implants by all the other players. Because every player is the best player in their country who goes to that event. So you really learn from it and even make friends with them. Kapa, what are you trying to imagine as you move up the international do is not okay? To me I picked last year in 2023. I won even a tournament which I represented Kenya in Saudi Arabia. It was only football. That was a big moment for me and helped me. No more people learn a lot and that is really helping me for the next stages that are coming. Yes and maybe just becoming a good player what does it take? A lot of hard work. Training a lot. Training with these other competitive players. Learn from them and also they learn from you. And gaining the skills. Watching some international tournaments you can be better. Demo? Yes. You guys are better that's why you are on this spot. I'll say even if we don't know we are in the same team. So before even the qualifiers we had trained and I think that played a huge part for qualifying. We always do that before a big tournament. We meet up, improve the skills, train, correct each other. And eventually you believe in yourself and you will qualify even in the tournament. Accessing the best technology how does that go for maybe players in Kenya? Technology, pardon? When you want to access the best of the latest information in the game. The information is always there on YouTube. You see what the big pro players do in the international tournaments. You just copy, you see their tactics and it's always there on YouTube. If you want to improve your skill, go on YouTube, search for the tactics, implement them in your game and you'll get better at the game. I see most of the sports or places in the neighbourhood is just for people who are out there to just have fun. And maybe the business owner making my small money. What do you foresee as players in the game? I'll say there are a lot of casual players who don't know they are like talent. Who just go to the FIFA zone and play. They have not been exposed to the e-sports industry. So I'll say the e-sports should be even be more exposed and educated to the young generation. Especially right now with low employment. I think it's a really good career path. A lot of people have football. I'll say that for AFC 24. So they should take their football knowledge and come and play the game here. I think accessing the technology, actually there are a lot of gaming dance. Which are like a free game, it has computers, PS, laptops, I think. There are games that are installed there. But I think maybe some people don't have enough money I think. But I think at some point through what Dimona said, going to the YouTube trend to improve their skills. And sometimes I usually say it's not normally the hard work. The hard work itself is usually maybe the talent. You know maybe you can be playing like 24 hours but me I'm playing 5 hours but I'm better than you. So I usually think it's talent. And if you see you have that talent, you should utilize it as Dimona said. It's paying, we're in the same team actually and it's paying. We are being paid and I think it's a big breakthrough for unemployment. And of course for those who also want to innovate as well. So it's a big employer right? Anybody of you who is also into tech? Kapa? I mean looking at expectations for you in the final. I mean the players from Mombasa, familiar faces you know. You play with the same club as well as from Nakuru. How do you expect the competition to be? It's going to be tough. It's actually going to be tough because each single player you play against is very competitive, very tough. So we have to be more creative, more patient. That's where it draws the line and actually makes the difference to win it. Dimon, your anticipation and expectation in the final? I'm believing in my skills and I believe I'll win. It's all the staff that open the finalist because everyone has his own gameplay. Everyone has trained, everyone wants to go to France. So you always have to believe in yourself. Make zero mistakes and even be clinical and believe in yourself also here. I think the tournament will be tough. Having opponents from actually Mombasa and Nakuru coming to Nairobi meaning they are prepared for it. So I think the tournament will be so tough but I believe in myself. You know you can do it but it really takes a lot for you to be better than the opponent. Even just one mistake can cost you. So I just think we should train more and just wait for the day and see what happens. Being in the same club, how has it helped you show up your skill like improving? This is the best team in Kenya actually right now. It has helped me because the other players are competitive, Hari and Dimon. I think they have some skills which I didn't know. It has really come through for me in improving my game. Now I am able to play like they are high level. So it has helped me. Kapa maybe just being around a number of players who have been doing well in the club and those who maybe are ready to share their knowledge and just share anything that will make the other player better. How would you say has been instrumental in your game? Instrumental in my game. Players who are ready to share. Surround yourself with beauty. Surround yourself with better players. You are going to be actually the next better player. Surrounding myself with players like Dimon and some other players other better players actually helped me a lot and improving myself becoming a better sport player. And of course it's not just only for people who out there maybe thinking that it's only football. It's not only football right? Yeah it's not only football. What else should players be maybe upcoming players those who are watching as well. What else is there for them if you don't like football? I feel like football is hard for you. Other games like Valorant, shooting games, NBA. That game also have international spots for them. They can try them and maybe they can be the best of them. The numbers that did turn up during the Nairobi finals what kind of message did they send about the sport Dimon? It's saying the sport is actually growing. Even the cabinet prime minister came there and it was an honour for him to come there. We met with him and it shows it's really growing. In the next few years it will be a certified career path for the younger generation. We'll see in the next few years. How will you say that it's looking promising like never before? Of course it's always growing. I think it's one of the top fastest growing industries in the world. It's easier to access because if you have a console just play it. You have good internet, you play online with your friend who is miles away. You just improve your skills. As we wind up during the national finals that will be happening on Saturday. What if you come out on top? How crucial will this win? It will be the best feeling in my life to be so crucial. Going to France is not easy. It will be the meaning of beating all the players in the country. Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu. It will be a very important step in my life. If I go there and make my country proud, that will be the best feeling. Kapa, for you, do you feel pressure? Nairobi champions are always expected to go all the way. It will be a big moment for me because it will give me exposure on the international level. That would help me a lot to become a better player. Dimon Defending Champion, how badly do you want it again? Winning this illegal tournament really opens doors for you. It exposes you. People know you more. You go to interviews, more interviews. Even meeting up with the other players. They know your name. You showcase your skills on the international level. I want to win it back to back and cement my greatness in the esports industry. We wish you all the best. You look forward to cementing your legacy as far as one of the best, finest esports players Kenya has ever seen. That's Dimon, Kapa and as well as Jojo Dipe. They've been speaking about this Saturday's final. That's the national finals, illegal national finals with the winner going all the way to Paris to represent Kenya at the International Championship Dialogue to you in France. This is the touchline on Y254, will be back shortly.