Team Vitality Sayf on guiding the future generation “I was definitely thinking of IGL-ing at some point”

"I think it’s something I’ve thought about before, and I feel like it’s clear that the ideas I have shown, at least within this region, they work”

Team Vitality’s faceoff against Fnatic was a powerful showdown between two teams who looked far more seasoned than indomitable. Heading into VCT Champions Seoul, the 1st and 2nd seeds of the VCT EMEA league look incredibly promising.

Wrapping up the domestic season, I grabbed a few quick words with Team Vitality’s Saif "Sayf" Jibraeel after the team’s series against Fnatic in the Grand Finals.

Following up from our previous discussion, Sayf spoke on his aspirations to continue evolving within the VALORANT space.

The last time we spoke, you mentioned how you were taking on the younger members of the team under your ‘mentorship’. How has that progressed?

I think they do listen a lot and respect a lot. And the words mean a lot to them. So, I have to be very careful with what I say around them because they take it to heart.

I’ve seen when they fall off. I’ve seen when they go back up again. And it’s just a part of the process when you’re new to something, you have to encounter all of these things, whether it’s a defeat or, you know, accomplishment.

They have to taste everything, basically, in order to get where I want them to be. And I think everyone’s been fantastic in listening and then respecting the advice I have to give.

You’ve gone through quite a transition. From coming in last year as the hot prospect so to speak, you’ve now quickly transitioned into a bit of the veteran role. How do you think this transition has impacted you personally?

I have different kinds of responsibilities. I sometimes can’t focus a lot on my game because I’m looking at what’s happening around me, what needs to be said, the energy in the room. It’s a little bit of everything, and it makes it harder to play sometimes. But I do know that it’s not about how I play, it’s about how we play.

Coming in from Guild Esports, Sayf quickly forged a name for himself in VCT EMEA as one of the best entry duelists during his time on Team Liquid. Despite that, his run with the organization was as short-lived and fleeting as their success in 2023. Sayf quickly found himself on Team Vitality for 2024, but now he was bringing younger rookies under his wing.

I was definitely thinking of IGL-ing at some point. I don’t know when that will be. There’s no time stamp on that. It’s just when the opportunity arises. I’m definitely open for it. I think it’s something I’ve thought about before, and I feel like it’s clear that the ideas I have shown, at least within this region, they work

I asked Sayf what he considered his strongest attributes for becoming a future IGL and/or coach. “I think that there’s a lot of clarity in the thing I’m saying,” he said. “I also know when to dictate the tempo.”

I know a round shouldn’t look the way it should look, just by pure intuition and understanding what’s happening on the map.

He followed up by saying: “And most of the time, people are a little afraid to say that we shouldn’t do something or we shouldn’t do that. Whereas I’m fine with taking the responsibility.”

Sayf on what EMEA needs to continue growing

Considering VCT EMEA's explosive growth in 2024, I asked Sayf what it would take for the region to continue fostering such talent as had emerged this year.

“We need more IGLs,” he said point-blankly. “We need better fundamentals, in terms of how to play a shooter game, how this game works as a whole, and understanding several concepts that are built within this game.”

In 2024, EMEA saw immense improvement in the Tier 1 scene over the previous year. Fnatic had been seen to be the region’s sole ‘champion’ in 2023, the singular team seemingly capable of truly contending for the biggest international titles, and had in fact delivered 2 for EMEA (Lock-in and Tokyo).

However, in the off-season, many of the EMEA organizations had spent their time polishing new diamonds in the rough and by the time Kickoff began, EMEA was flourishing with a multitude of new challenger teams on par with Fnatic’s 2023 level in many ways.

Whether it’s how to condition the enemy or how to abuse weak points, in terms of pacing, everything, neutral sequence. It’s a little bit of everything, and it’s like we don’t fully teach people this.

Sayf also lamented on the state of Tier 2 VALORANT, saying: “I feel like in Tier 2, it’s (fundamentals) not well taught enough, and we’re very slack. There’s a lot of slack on everything we do.” He went on to warn that if EMEA did not “tighten it up a lot”, that there wouldn’t be “a lot of development in the region.”

EMEA’s Tier 2 scene has proven to be integral to the development of VCT EMEA in 2024, providing some of the greatest rookies we have seen to date internationally and these rough diamonds’ entry into the league has proven to be the biggest catalyst for improvement in the region.

Do you think EMEA is behind other regions in terms of this aspect?

I think in some aspects, yes. In other aspects, no. I think, strategically, we are a little behind, and sometimes we seem to thrive more in chaos than within something that is well-structured.

Fnatic is an example of a team that plays within the structure and within things that make sense and obviously building up rounds and how they take shape. Whereas other teams maybe are a bit more fluid and, you know, moving around kinda like, ‘we’ll do this, we’ll do that…’, but yeah.

Considering EMEA’s rich history in FPS games, why in your opinion, does that experience not translate into VALORANT in terms of tactical knowledge?

I think it’s just a hard game to learn. I mean, it’s not the easiest game in the world and there’s just so many things you can do. And it’s more about dedicating time and experimenting, and a lot of people are a bit lazy. And that’s just how it is. We’re gamers at the end of the day. People are gonna be lazy, and they don’t wanna do the extra bit of work. So yeah…

Heading into Seoul as EMEA’s 2nd seed, Vitality look a far cry from their Kickoff and Stage 1 form, showing massive signs of improvement as a team and even individually. Their opening match against Trace Esports will serve as a strong test for how their run will go at their first international tournament of the year.

Stay tuned on Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences and more. You can also follow the tournament on Strafe Esports.

Credit: Michael Kronkol / Riot Games

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