· Esports athlete and FKF referee Shirley Ndirangu wins Tujiamini Silver Award
· Shirley recently finished 2nd placeat Afro-Arab e sports league in Saudi Arabia
Shirley Ndirangu, known by her gaming moniker "Tinto," is more than just a professional e-sports athlete. This aspiring professional FIFA competitor seamlessly blends her passion for virtual football with her role as an established football referee within the FKF Division 2. Its these qualities that saw the judges select Shirley as a Tujiamini Silver award winner.
Tinto's journey into the world of e-sports began at the tender age of 14 when a friend introduced her to the captivating realm of FIFA. As a relatively new sport globally, e-sports has taken the sporting world by storm, offering glamorous tournaments and lucrative cash prizes for winners across the globe.
"I discovered my passion for competitive gaming when Is tumbled upon the local tournament for FIFA 23, a game that was then my favorite," Tinto reminisced. From that pivotal moment, she dedicated herself to mastering the game, honing her skills until she eventually joined an e-sports team.
Recently, Tinto's talents shone brightly as she secured second place at the prestigious Afro-Arab Esports League 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With the unwavering support of Tujiamini and the acquisition of her own PlayStation Console, Tinto is now poised to claim the coveted number one spot and be crowned the African champion.
As a female athlete in a male-dominated sport, Tinto is on a mission to inspire the next generation of e-sports athletes and female referees, transcending gender, and background barriers. "I want to break the misconception that e-sports in a male-dominated industry," she asserts with conviction.
One of the challenges Tinto faces as a lady gamer is the lack of enough competitions catered specifically for female gamers, often compelling her to compete in male categories. Through her remarkable results, she hopes to blaze a trail, inspiring the creation of more competitions that cater to both genders.
With her very own PlayStation, Tinto will no longer have to travel to gaming shops or friends' houses to practice her craft. Previously, her competitors had a significant advantage, being able to rack up more hours on their personal consoles. Now, Tinto can practice and hone her talents more regularly, enabling her to push and compete at even higher levels than ever before.
The Tujiamini Initiative by SportPesa is rewarding applicants with up to KSh3,000,000 in goods and services each and every month.