▲ Head Coach Kévin "Shaunz" Ghanbarzadeh

Can you tell us a little bit about Team Vitality?

We’re a professional eSports organization based in France. We have one of the most prominent CoD teams in Europe as well as in-house teams for various eSports titles including FIFA, Rainbow Six, and LoL. As one of the founding members, I’m in a decisionmaking position, not just regarding LoL but in other games as well.



How big is eSports in France?

Our government is very interested in eSports, and actual investments are taking place. It’s my understanding that the government received a favorable report from their preliminary market research. You can tell the hype is real from seeing big sports teams like Paris Saint-Germain FC establishing official eSports teams. There is still some way to go in terms of compensation and infrastructure, but things will get better as public perception improves.



What brought you to Korea?

We didn’t have specific goals. Since Korea is the birthplace of eSports, it seemed like the perfect place to visit. We also wanted to broaden our horizons and learn more about Korean culture. If possible, we’d like to meet people from LCK teams like SKT, ROX, and Samsung.





Were you able to achieve those objectives?

We met some people from Korean teams. Maybe it’s the Confucian influence, but I noticed that there’s a rigid social order in which younger and less powerful people tend to follow older and more powerful people. In Western culture, such obedience is quite rare. Western players in their teens don’t readily accept advice from coaches because the kind of top-down societal norm isn’t there. Additionally, I heard that Korean society is extremely competitive, so everything comes together in eSports to prduce great players.

In that regard, we’re looking for Korean players who not only play well but also have an extensive experience in leading teams. You know, players who are the hearts of teams like Bengi and Ambition. There isn’t an angle. It’s just that those two just came to mind. [laughs]



This spring, you were among the top three teams in Europe, alongside G2 Esports and H2K. The summer saw you drop down to 7th place. What was the reason for this slump?

First of all, we weren’t completely adjusted to the new patch. Also, players lost focus and interest in the game as they accrued losses. That's failure on my end because I should have taken care of the team better. Then there was the language barrier issue with our two Korean players, Police and MightyBear. That last problem can be solved with time. We now only have MightyBear, but I’m sure we’ll be able to play better next season given enough trial-and-error.





Can you share us some insider insights about European sports clubs' recent eSports rush?

I’d first like to give some context. Europe isn’t a single country but a continent, so teams are often comprised of players from different countries. It’s very rare to see a European team with only people of one nationality. A downside of having multinational members is that it becomes difficult to have loyalty or identity for players and fans alike.

This also applies to sponsorship. One of the major challenges in running an eSports team is getting sponsors, and it’s harder to get them when a team is multinational. For example, a French company would find less of a reason to sponsor a team if it doesn't necessarily represent France. We try to maintain our identity by having French coaches and players.

Also, regional teams can lead up to national competition among different nations in Europe. If European countries can compete against each other, I think EU LCS would grow much bigger and become more competent on a global scale.

Most traditional sports in Europe have that sense of belonging and clear identity. Sports teams represent a certain region where local fans grow up having a deep connection to their home team. I hope the next generation of eSports fans can develop a similar attachment and pride.



In terms of salary compensation for players, how does Europe compare to China?

I think Europe isn’t far off from China. Having said that, European teams are investing more on infrastructure and coaching staff because their international showings have been less than stellar. China has the best monetary compensations, but I think there are pros and cons.

China’s advantage is their big paychecks, whereas Europe offers a chance to experience many different cultures and widen personal horizons. There’s the additional perk of having awesome fans. Players who speak English at an adequate level can lead a fun and exciting life here.





Would you care for an obligatory NA vs EU question?

Many people like to talk about the NA vs EU rivalry, but I think each region should focus more on catching up to China and Korea. Instead of bickering across the Atlantic, Western teams should become contenders in good faith so they can compete with their Asian counterparts.



What are Vitality’s goals for next year?

We’d like to focus on small steps first. Instead of saying things like how we want to go to Worlds, we’ll do well in EU LCS Spring and become a consistent and dynamic team.

Source article by Inven Koer