Kenya ready for Phygital football tournament in Abu Dhabi

Professional gamers in action when BLAZE by Safaricom launched an e-sports tournament in partnership with Pro Series Gaming (PSG) and Standard Group, at the Safaricom centre, Nairobi [Elvis Ogina.Standard]

The Kenya Phygital team is ready to fly the national flag high at the "Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi - Football" tournament, set to take place from July 25 to 29 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

This will be Kenya's debut in a global Phygital football event, and the team is eager to make a strong impression. Phygital is a new sport that mixes traditional physical football with virtual gaming, creating an exciting hybrid experience.

Rony Lusigi, President of the Kenya Esports Federation, expressed his confidence in the team ahead of their historic appearance.
"Phygital is a wonderful concept. It has gained a lot of traction among Kenyan youth. We are excited to be making our debut at the global stage. I have no doubt that our boys will make us proud," said Lusigi.

Kenya joins 23 other top-ranked teams from around the world in Abu Dhabi, where they will compete for a place in the Games of the Future 2025, scheduled for December in the UAE. Some of the top teams expected at the event include defending champions Team Joga from the USA and the talented LPT team from Venezuela.

The tournament in Abu Dhabi is the final qualification event ahead of the Games of the Future. It follows earlier events in the series, such as Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals, which have helped shape the global rankings and qualify teams.

"This tournament is the defining moment of our season-long qualifiers. It will determine the elite teams who will showcase the best of phygital sport at the Games of the Future 2025," said Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International.

The event is organized by ASPIRE in partnership with Ethara and Phygital International. It highlights Abu Dhabi's growing reputation as a global hub for new sports technologies and competitions.

Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, emphasized the importance of hosting the tournament in the UAE capital. "Bringing the Phygital Contenders to Abu Dhabi is a tremendous privilege and a milestone in our journey to redefine competitive sport," he said.

After this year's Games in Abu Dhabi, the tournament will move to Astana, Kazakhstan in 2026, continuing its journey across the globe.

With top teams, cutting-edge technology, and passionate players, Kenya will be looking to make its mark in this exciting new chapter of world sport.