South African telecoms company Smartcall has announced a R10 million (£562,200) investment in local eSports organisation Mettlestate.
Co-founder of Mettlestate, Barry Louzada, explained:
“More leagues mean more opportunities for players at all skill levels and across various gaming titles to compete, with more rewards for the amount of time and passion they put into their craft. Since launching in March 2017, Mettlestate has hosted various leagues, tournaments and qualifiers for various gaming titles, where close to R2 million in prize money has been won by players across SA. Any investment big or small by a brand into the industry adds value.
“This investment by Smartcall will allow us to do even more amazing things and drive even more opportunities for gamers in South Africa. It’s very exciting. We’re really grateful that Smartcall, a credible brand with over 20 years of business under their belt, saw a trusted partner in Mettlestate.”
The extra investment will allow Mettlestate, which was launched in 2017 and has so far awarded more than R2 million in prize money, to create several new leagues, encouraging the development of eSports in South Africa. The organisation also has active partnerships with ASUS Republic of Gamers, Monster Energy and SteelSeries.
Marketing Manager at Smartcall, Jan Cronje commented:
“With gaming having mobile ties in both the casual and esports space, it would be a wasted opportunity to not get involved in this industry and introduce it to a whole new group of people across South Africa
“We’ve been watching and talking to Mettlestate for quite some time now, and their passion, drive and flawless execution of events and leagues that they host makes us feel comfortable that we’ve put our investment in the right place. Together, we can forge the future of South African esports.”
The growth of eSports in South Africa has rapidly accelerated over the past few years, with several organisations being established, and big name brands eager to be associated with successful teams, however there is still a struggle to professionalise when compared with other regions of the world. Agreements like the Mettlestate Smartcall deal are a big step in the right direction, and will give South African esports a substantial boost.
