Temwani Mhango: I want to be role model to women in esports | OneFootball

Brentford’s fast-tracked ePremier League players for the play-offs have been revealed, with Temwani Mhango one of the Bees’ representatives, making her a part of just five per cent of women in pro esports - and her goal is to inspire other females to get involved.

Along with Temwani, Owen Larney, a professional EA FC player for Tranmere Rovers, will be taking part for the west Londoners.

The Bees’ ePremier League club play-offs take place on 30 January, where players will compete to go through to the tournament’s group stage. In its seventh season, the ePremier League gives football fans the chance to win the ePremier League title for their favourite club.

And, for Temwani - a music student at the University of West London - this experience is her first introduction to the competitive world of esports, where she recognises the opportunity she has to be a role model for other girls and women who want to get involved.

She said: “My goal this season is to encourage other women who want to break into the esports scene, showing them that they belong here just as much as anyone else.

“In a space that’s still heavily male-dominated, I want to be a role model and prove that women can succeed, compete, and excel at the highest levels.”

Representing Brentford is something that Temwani is particularly proud of. She added: “To represent Brentford in the ePL, to play for all of these fans, to channel the club’s unique community spirit, and to show that the bond between Brentford and its fans transcends both physical stadiums and virtual arenas is great.

“It’s about bringing that west London pride to a huge platform and proving that the impact of Brentford’s fans and values can be felt as powerfully in esports as it is in the stands on matchday.

“I am excited for the opportunity and the challenge. One of my earliest memories is of me with a controller in my hands, trying to beat my dad in a game.

“The world of esports eventually became more and more appealing. I kept returning to the games because of the community, which is hard to find in any other game. The connections it bridges between friends, family, and random opponents across the globe are hard to match.”

Professional EA FC player Owen has played the game for as long as he can remember. After taking his playing more seriously, he reached the top 200 players in the world, which then led him to this career.

He stated: “Earlier this year I signed up for the Tranmere Rovers Path to Pro competition, where the winner would earn a professional esports contract at the club. I won the competition, and it was by far the biggest achievement in my EA FC career.”

As a professional in the game, he welcomes the diversity esports is starting to see, with fellow player Temwani also representing Brentford this year: "There’s this massive stigma about gaming and that EA FC is just meant to be for male players.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase that women are just as good to compete as men are. This will inspire women to take up esports and maybe turn it into a career."

Owen is looking forward to the playoffs and particularly the chance to represent Brentford: “They are a club I have always admired, and I want to bring them great success this season. I can't wait to get to work!”

About the competition

This season’s competition format is focused on working together, as clubs field two players, one on Xbox and the other on PlayStation, to work collaboratively across platforms.

At the club play-offs, each player will face off in 1v1 matches on their respective console against players from other clubs. The combined results of these individual match-ups will determine the club's overall performance in the series.

Winners will get a share of the £100,000 prize pool and seats at the eChampions League and FC Pro World Championship. This season’s competition will take place on EA SPORTS FC 25.