The Singapore Premier League (SPL) has launched an official esports league, the eSPL. 

A collaborative effort between the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Redd+E Sports, Zenway Productions, and The Gym, the inaugural season features all eight SPL football teams, and is being played in eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020. 

Teams are appearing in accurate jerseys and players and officials are accurately represented on the virtual pitch. The eSPL kicked off with group state games on 11 July, with the knockout stage set for 18-19 July. 

All the action, including group stage games, semifinals, grand finals, women’s tournament, and a celebrity grudge match, is being broadcast on Singtel TV, StarHub TV, meWATCH, and the official SPL Facebook page. 

Discussing the news Director of Commercial and Marketing at the Football Association of Singapore, Jonathan Wong, said:

“With Covid-19 having curtailed our plans for the 25th anniversary season, the introduction of the eSPL is a timely one which will allow football fans to catch some sporting action featuring players from our SPL while waiting for the resumption of the league. Great effort has been put into localising the look of the teams so that SPL fans can have a stronger sense of association to their favourite teams when watching the games.”

While Co-founder and Managing Director of Redd+E, Yip Ren Kai, added:

“As local boys, we are always looking at ideas to value add to the sports communities in Singapore, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We are delighted to partner the FAS in this initiative to bring the SPL closer to the fans through esports. Coupled with the ability to replicate the SPL teams’ outfits on PES and to get footballers to represent their respective clubs in this tournament, we hope that it will bring existing fans closer to the clubs and also to interest new fans in the SPL.”

AYO.NEWS says:

As the world wakes up to the fact that the COVID-19 crisis isn’t going away, we’re seeing more and more traditional sports leagues launch official esports tournaments. Just last week Finland’s top-flight football division, Veikkausliiga, launched the eFutisliiga, in partnership with PlayStation. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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