VIDEO game junkies converged on Maponya Mall by the hundreds to take part in a Playstation 3 Pro-Evolution Soccer (PES) tournament – the first of its kind to be held in Soweto.
“There have always been tournaments like this around, but they’re always predominantly (hosted for) white people in predominantly white areas.
“So, we decided to hold the tournament here because black people are the biggest (consumers of games in South Africa)… It’s about time black people started to experience technology,” said Linda Mkhwanazi, an organiser of the tournament.
Mkhwanazi said that Soweto, as the capital of soccer and a trendsetter of South African popular youth culture in the country, had reasons for hosting the tournament.
A total of 256 men and boys between the ages of eight and 30 entered the competition and started gathering at the mall as early as 9am.
Initially, the players were meant to be divided into eight groups, with only the top two from each group qualifying to make the last 16 rounds of playoffs.
“But because the turnout was so high, it became a knockout competition from the beginning,” Mkhwanazi said.
“Look next to you … the guy standing next to you is your competition and everybody here is a good player,” said Lawrence Maleka, the organiser and host of the event.
After the first round of games, it was already evident that the competition would be tough.
“I don’t know what happened, maybe it’s because I’m used to playing on my computer and not on Playstation 3,” said Tumisand Motlou, who lost his first game 4-0.
After 10 hours on his feet, Vuyani Mngqibisa, 25, emerged the victor, winning a PES hamper, an appearance on Soweto community TV’s gaming programme, The Gadget Show, and, most importantly, the bragging rights.
“The toughest game was the semi-final, because I won through penalties. The competition was stiff, but I did my best and I think I deserved to win,” he added.
The PES tournament was the first of a series of 12 competitions, and the winners will compete against each other for the title of the ultimate PES champion.
The next tournament, the date of which is still to be announced, will be held at Wits university.