ELeague1 Tour Kenya hosts fifth qualifying round at BBS Mall, Eastleigh
The competition aims at identifying Kenya’s top FIFA player, who will go on to represent the country in Paris at the League 1 McDonald's event.
FC25 is steadily becoming a favourite among young people, offering a football simulation that closely replicates real-life gameplay.
ELeague1 Tour Kenya, a programme centred on FC25 (EA Sports), held its fifth qualifying round on Saturday, at BBS Mall in Eastleigh. The competition aims at identifying Kenya’s top FIFA player, who will go on to represent the country in Paris at the League 1 McDonald's event.
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With over 1,000 youths participating in this annual tournament, excitement was at its best. Event organiser Jeff Akaranga highlighted the significance of bringing the competition to Eastleigh, stating, “We have been hosting these tournaments for years, and today, we chose Eastleigh as part of our efforts to expand its reach and grow its popularity. FC25 is the latest game in town, and we want more youths to experience it.”
Akaranga attributed the growing traction of the game to their online campaigns, noting that many young people have a strong interest in gaming. “We have been doing online campaigns and registration, and that way, we have been able to get youths who are willing to come and participate in this competition. In our previous tour, we had one notable player who went by the name 'Demon'. He was the winner and went abroad to represent Kenya. I hope he will show up today too,” he added.
Only female player
The competition was structured into four pools A, B, C, and D where players were grouped and pitted against one another. Among the participants was a standout competitor, Brillian Watitwa, the only female player in the tournament. Placed in Pool A, she defied the odds, delivering an impressive performance with a 4-1 victory against a male opponent in the FC25 knockout round.
Did you know that, like any other game, FIFA FC25 also has teams? Some players form groups managed by coaches, much like in real football. Watitwa shared how she and her team learned about the tournament and their journey to participation.
"I started playing FC when it was FC22. That’s when my interest grew, and today we have been brought by our coach. This is not my first tournament I have been in several others. Here in the first round, I was just warming up for the other rounds," she said.
As a woman in a largely male-dominated space, Watitwa noted that she feels just as comfortable as the other players, adding that passion is what drives her. She sees such tournaments as valuable opportunities for growth and competition.
Another event organiser, Robert Njoroge, echoed Akaranga’s sentiments, emphasising the steady growth of ELeague1 over the years. "This being our fifth tournament, I can say we have gained traction, and the numbers are getting bigger as the game is getting more popular," he said.
Njoroge, fondly known as Roba, further explained how the league operates. "Here, players get to pick teams from ELeague1, a division in France only, where they compete against each other. No other teams are allowed to play just ELeague1 teams as they are competing for a trophy which is in France. The winner will go to represent Kenya in France for that Cup," he clarified.
Following intense rounds of competition and knockouts, seven players qualified for the national finals, alongside the defending champion. The final eight will meet again to battle it out until one is crowned the overall winner of the tournament.
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