Zaid April Secures His Maiden Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship Title

Author: Erica Mathye

This year, the Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship crowned a new winner in Zaid April who has both local and international accolades. April showed true resilience after three previous attempts. On his fourth try, his grit and hard work finally paid off as he claimed his maiden title.

This year’s finals took place in the first week of December, with the country’s top gamers competing for a share of the impressive R200 000 prize pool at the rAge festival.

The grand finale saw a rematch between April and the three-time winner of the Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship, Kaylan Moodley. Renowned for their undeniable talent and fight, the two battled it out with so much calm while the spectators bit their nails with so much anticipation.

For April, the victory was a sweet yet emotional one, especially after coming so close in the previous years and not having his father to revel in the triumph with him.
“It feels amazing to have finally won. This is something I have always wanted to achieve locally. I have won every other local tournament and this was the only one I had been struggling to win — and I finally did,” he shared in an interview with the Mamelodi Sundowns Digital Magazine.

“Having my family here (in Johannesburg) to support me all the way from Cape Town motivated me to fight hard for the victory. It has been difficult since my dad passed away, so my family has been showing up for me more than usual and I am really grateful,” he continued.

When asked about his preparation for the final, the new champion explained that he had analysed all his opponents and started preparing earlier than usual, which paid off.

“I live in Cape Town, so I came to Gauteng a week early to study my potential competition and play as many games as possible to prepare. I also wanted to observe how my opponents train. For instance, Kaylan beat me in the upper final last year, so I went back to analyse that game and understand why I lost. It worked because I finally managed to defeat him in this competition,” he concluded.

During the breaks, as the finalists rested and prepared, Mamelodi Sundowns forward and gaming enthusiast Tashreeq Matthews faced off against 5FM presenter, motor enthusiast, and gamer Jude van Wyk in a special gaming session. Jude emerged victorious, defeating Matthews 3-0. The 5FM presenter admitted he had not expected to win.

“I was super nervous going into the game against Tash. Usually, when you are a professional footballer, you know exactly what you are doing in the game. Surprisingly, I ended up beating him 3-0. I really enjoyed the game and the chance to play against him,” he said.

Reflecting on an exciting exhibition, van Wyk said he is proud to see the Club involved in the Esports scene.

“It has been amazing to watch the competition grow in South Africa, with Mamelodi Sundowns at the heart of it. I have seen Kaylan (Moodley) play and win this tournament several times — he is something else. I would also like to congratulate the new champion, Zaid (April); what a tough competitor. It is really great to be part of this,” he said.

When asked which Mamelodi Sundowns player he would gift this festive season, the motor enthusiast chose Matthews. “I would gift Tashreeq Matthews as an apology for defeating him. I would probably get him something gaming-related since he really enjoys gaming,” he added.

Congratulations to the new champion, Zaid April, for his well-deserved victory! Whilst he plans to take the much-deserved break and celebrate the victory, he plans not to rest on his laurels and will be ready to defend his title.

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