ESFK President Lusigi lauds IOC move to have Esports

Esports Kenya Federation (ESFK) president Ronny Lusigi has lauded the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) move to integrate Electronic sports as part of the Olympic games by the year 2025.

Speaking to Citizen Digital Lusigi hailed the move as a big step towards legitimizing the just blooming sport as the IOC seeks to digitize the Olympic games.

"For the Esports landscape in Kenya and across the world that is a big plus for us because whenever a sport is new the biggest thing you need is the legitimacy.

"Having the Olympic accomodate us will mean a lot because this has been coming from 2018 when they formed the Olympic Esports committee which they have been working with.

"This year we were able to have a test which was the Olympic Esports series and we really feel proud when we see Esports be associated with the biggest sports moment in the world," expressed Lusigi.

At the same time the ESFK president lauded the government's support in their bid to host the African Esports Championship in 2024 as he expressed confidence in securing the hosting rights.

"Kenya is a member of the Global Esports Federation who shall be seeking to host the African Esports Championships in 2024.

"We are towards the closing stages and I can't reveal much but we will have some good news in 2024 in that regard.

"We have the support of the ministry (Sports) which we are happy about as you remember when the Talanta Hela was being launched the cabinet secretary (Ababu Namwamba) mentioned the aspect of Esports so we are seeing a lot of goodwill from the government," assured the ESFK boss.

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba declared the ministry's full support for the Federation back in November 2023 as he assured the government's full backing in a bid to host the 2024 African Esports Championship.

Lusigi further called on social and corporate institutions to partner with the Federation in gowing the acceptance of Esports in Kenya as they seek to expand the landscape.

"Of Course we need partnerships with social institutions, which is the first thing.
"Social institutions we are talking about schools mainly in growing the acceptance of this sport and other community organizations.

"Mainly we need the corporate support but this will only come when we are able to demonstrate that Esports is beyond just the competition and that like just any other sport has got a positive impact on the community," said Lusigi.

The federation has lined up plans to have a month-long national competition  in 2024 as well as upscaling Esports in the Universities with a Varsity league  while also gearing up for the E-league one tour in France among other competitions ahead of a busy schedule.