Manchester City's professional FIFA players are competing in the FA eLions esports event this week, with the four winners set to represent England in the FIFA eNations Cup later this year.
City have two dedicated FIFA professional esports players in Ryan Pessoa and Shaun ‘Shellzz’ Springette, who represent the club in major events around the world. Pessoa was ranked as the 69th best FIFA player in the world on Xbox in 2020 according to Global Series Ranking, whilst Shellzz finished as the 47th best FIFA player in the world on PS4 in 2020.
The City duo will represent the club at the FA’s FIFA esports eLions event this week, called ‘ELIONS: THE ELIMINATOR’, where 16 of the world's best FIFA players in England will have the chance to represent England in the 2021 FIFAe Nations Cup.
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eLions is the England FIFA 21 team, which currently consists of Hashtag Tom and Fnatic Tekkz, but ahead of the FIFAe Nations Cup later this year England are expanding their squad to 4 (2 x Xbox and 2 x PS4 players), with the places set to be decided by a straight knock-out format meaning that any losing player will be automatically eliminated, and the winners will fill the four positions in this year's FA FIFA esports eLions squad.
Ahead of the event, MEN caught up with City's esports stars to preview the tournament, discuss their ambitions to represent England and find out what it's like playing for Manchester City esports.
"To put on the England shirt and represent them at a tournament, and to even represent a football club, not even a giant like Man City, is like a dream come true honestly," said Shaun ‘Shellzz’ Springette.
"To represent them both and hopefully to win a trophy for both of them, it would be a great honour for me.
"Being able to represent both would be the peak, I'd say of representing anything," said Ryan Pessoa
"To represent Manchester City, the best esports team there is, and England, which is the best esports nation there is as well, being able to represent both would mean you're doing something well and it's definitely the aim.
The duo also talked about what it's like to represent Manchester City at major FIFA esports events around the world, praising the club for their support, with City providing both players with a mental coach, and the club's long-term esports vision.
On that, Shellzz said: "When I was a free agent, when I had the idea of football clubs, with signing players and stuff, I didn't really see their kind of idea, that project and just how seriously they take it.
"Since I joined City, they've done more than I ever could ask for and things I didn't even think were possible.
"We've got a mental coach, Edgar, who helps us with the mental side of the game, which is an important aspect for everyone because we deal with pressure, because we all want to win and do well when we're going to represent the club.
"He helps us with that and he helps us with the in-game focus as well, it's helped me massively like even now when I pay the qualifiers, I'm a lot more calm.
"Even when I lose, I can take a lot more and I can deal with the stress and stuff like that.
"Even with like the ePremier League and how it's streamed and stuff, they get a serious broadcast team, they want to show off their esports side and they want to show that they care about FIFA and esports in general.
"They're taking it really seriously, they show their interest and they show their interest to us, they (City) care about us and they want us to do well.
"They (City) support us really well, I know they want the best for us we've tried to give that back to them.
"I'd say we have the best structure in my opinion across FIFA esports, no doubt, in my opinion, anyway," said Pessoa.
"The support they've offered, everything from the facilities that we're able to play in when we have qualifiers.
"I love representing City and being affiliated with the club.
The upcoming FA eLions esports event, which will be streamed on England’s official Twitch channel from 3.45pm on February 11 and February 12, will have a straight knock-out format meaning that any losing player will be automatically eliminated.
But despite the ruthless format, both Pessoa and Shellzz are confident in their ability to progress.
"The format's ruthless, of course, but all the players here are top players," said Pessoa.
"Obviously, I back myself. First game, I have ImpactZ, who's a fantastic player as well, very skillful.
"But regardless of who I play, it doesn't make a difference. Like it's going to be tough. Everyone here is here on merit, they've done well to reach the stage. And yeah, I back myself, but it will be tough.
"You don't have any second chance, but we've all been in a situation where we can't lose and stuff like that," said Shellzz
"So I mean, there's not too much of a problem.
"Of course, you know, you know how big the opportunity is to play for England, just got get the job done on the day.
With people around the world spending more time at home over the last 12 months, the interest in both the gaming industry and competitive esports has growth enormously, and both City esports players agree that the industry will only get bigger.
"I think esports as a whole is getting bigger and bigger," said Shellzz.
"You see, like professional footballers, not even just football, like athletes all around the world streaming nowadays.
"What is it AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - U.S. Representative) in America?
"She's like yeah a politician, but even she's streaming now.
"Esports as a whole is growing and for FIFA it's just getting bigger and bigger every year.
"Now you see more opportunities for us players to collaborate with, you know, the guys we watch on the pitch all the time. So it's a great, great thing for us."
"It's growing year by year. And every year, there's like a step forward," said Pessoa.
"Of course, it's a bit difficult because there's so much going on in the world right now, with the pandemic and things out of our control, but the opportunity to represent England, it's a great chance."
The FA’s FIFA esports eLions event ‘ELIONS: THE ELIMINATOR’ will be taking place between February 11 and February 12 and will also be live streamed on England’s official Twitch channel from 3.45pm across both days, with a straight knock-out format meaning that any losing player will be automatically eliminated.
In day one, Shellzz beat Papsity 6-4, but current eLion Hashtag Tom beat the City Esports star to confirm his place as an England representative.
City Esports star Ryan Pessoa will compete on Friday January 12, and you can watch it live on England’s official Twitch channel from 3.45pm.
Joleon Lescott will be joining host Rachel Stringer, analyst Mavric with English FIFA commentators Brandon Smith and Richard Buckley and other special guests across the two-day live broadcast.
There will be giveaways including a ‘Secret Lab’ England branded gaming chair, signed England merchandise and EA SPORTS FIFA 21 in game icons Including 1966 World Cup wining captain Bobby Moore, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
City's esports presence is growing significantly, having previously announced a collaborative partnership with FaZe Clan, one of the biggest and most popular esports organisations in the world, back in September 2019. City also launched a bespoke esports kit for the 2020/21 season, with the design inspired by the City third-kit.
The club were also featured in Fortnite for the first time at the start of this year, with City emotes, outfits, skins and more available in-game after City collaborated with Epic Games.
The City Football Group also continues to invest in esports, with 16 professional FIFA players across clubs like City, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, Girona FC, Montevideo City Torque, Sichuan Jiuniu FC and Mumbai City FC and two further esports teams in South Korea and China representing CFG in major FIFA tournaments around the world.
