Kenya set to host Phygital Rivals tournament

Kenya is set to host the second edition of the Phygital Rivals tournament next month, as the country continues to cement its place among the pioneers of the fast-rising blend of esports and traditional sport.

The competition, dubbed Phygital Rivals: Kenya, Phygital Football, will take place on November 23 at the Arena 5 Astroturf, Jamhuri Primary School. Sixteen top teams will battle it out for ranking points that count towards qualification for the 2026 Games of the Future in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Phygital sport brings together physical and digital competition with athletes facing off both on the field and in virtual gaming environments. In the football format, each fixture features a five-a-side football match and a console-based game, with scores from both added to determine the winner.

Kenya hosted its first Phygital Rivals tournament in January this year at the Uhuru Sports Complex, where Isaa Team from Kajiado lifted the inaugural title. Their triumph earned them a slot at the Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi event in July, where they reached the quarterfinals.

World Phygital Community chairperson Dan Merkley praised Kenya’s growing influence in the sport, saying the event will “capture the passion, talent, and innovation that define this movement, bringing together communities that love to play, compete, and connect both on the field and on the console.

Esports Kenya Federation President Ronny Lusigi urged players to embrace the hybrid concept, noting that the world is increasingly digital but physical activity remains vital.

“We live in a world today that is rapidly moving digital, and it is important that we also put focus on maintaining our physical activities,” said Lusigi. “We are all phygital and we are all digital, we are thus phygital.”