True athletes love to compete, excel and win. It doesn’t matter if they are on an actual field or a virtual one: the spirit is the same, and few illustrate this better than Busisiwe “Bee” Masango-Steenkamp, a rising talent in competitive esports, and a passionate evangelist for women’s football. She is the newest Team FIFA recruit at Goliath Gaming, the leading South African esports group and an affiliate of Acer and Predator gaming gear.
“I have heard of professional gaming, but I honestly didn’t think it was a thing in South Africa,” said Busi. “I was surprised to learn that there were female gamers in the industry. But there are no females in SA representing the FIFA/EA FC competitive scene. I saw it as an opportunity to open doors for other women while doing something that I love.”
Busi is not a traditional gamer. She hails from the sports field, where she played netball competitively. Football was always in the background. She grew up with five brothers and three male cousins in the family, and they maintain a family tradition to watch the Soweto Derby every year. But it was an injury that brought her closer to the beautiful game.
“My passion for football started after I fractured my wrist whilst playing netball. I needed to keep myself busy, so I decided to learn how to juggle the ball like Ronaldinho. That’s where the obsession began. I found myself watching more games to learn more about the sport and to learn more skills and tricks. I eventually started playing with the boys at school at the age of 8.”
She kept up with the game and soon encountered its digital version in FIFA 07. While visiting her older brother, she was allowed to play on his PlayStation 2 as a reward for completing her chores:
“I noticed that he had a game with Ronaldinho and Rooney on the cover. I got excited because I recognised these football stars. Curiosity got the better of me so I decided to play the game. From that day on, it has been one of my top 3 games. The fact that it was a football game had me sold. Also, my willingness to try new things to better understand the game helped.”
Yet the 27-year-old football fanatic would indulge in the game for several years before she encountered its esports side. It was a chance moment of attending the FIFA Play Like A Girl event, co-hosted by Goliath Gaming, that showed her the possibilities of becoming an esports player. Busi’s skills impressed the Goliath elite, such as Thabo “YvngSavage” Moloi and Julio “Beast” Bianchi, the first African player to qualify for the FIFAe World Cup. They put her to the test and were so impressed that they offered her a spot at Goliath Gaming.
“It’s great being part of the Goliath Gaming team and having Acer’s backing,” said Busi. “They are supportive, understanding, and helpful—like a mini gaming family. It’s taught me a lot. I have learned that there is always room for improvement. Consistency and dedication is key and work hand in hand. For the most part it has been great. Learning about the industry, building a presence and competing has been fun.”
But it’s also been tough, and Busi has encountered some toxic elements of the scene. Still, she’s not deterred, especially knowing she can be a role model for other women. She’s also using the momentum to pursue her larger love for football.
Currently, Busi is completing her coaching licence, and she’s spearheading Bring the Ball, a football platform focusing primarily on women’s football in South Africa where “we are trying to create a safe space for women to get relevant information about football tournaments and trials. We have a podcast, Instagram page, YouTube channel and an official website.”
The future looks bright for Busisiwe “Bee” Masango-Steenkamp. Her passion for football is opening many doors, and she wants to see other women join the ranks of football and esports. For those who want to also turn their passion into a future, she has good advice:
“I will reference my favourite quote, ‘Your fear of looking stupid is holding you back’. If you want to do something that makes you happy, then go for it. The fear of making mistakes shouldn’t deter you from chasing your dreams. I have developed resilience because of the obstacles I have been through. Be open to learning new things and asking questions!”
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