On the real pitch, TSG Hoffenheim is well known for successfully promoting young talent. Among other things, Niklas Süle and Jonas Hofmann are mentioned in the club announcement. Parallel to football, big names should soon come from the eSports offspring of the Kraichgauer. To this end, an eAcademy will be launched in September. Hoffenheim wants to be able to rely on their own substructure when putting together the squad in the future.
“Promoting talent is an important part of the DNA of the entire club. As part of our long-term strategy at TSG eSPORTS, we have therefore always pursued the vision of building a youth performance group,” says eSports team manager Gordon Lesser. “The first step on the way there is the founding of the TSG eAkademie.” The project kicks off with two new talents who were scouted through in-house tournaments.
An eAkademie player already has cup experience
Luan Waldleitner and Lisandro Schenk become the first members of the eAkademie. Both took part in the final round of the TSG eChampion 2023. Schenk made it to the quarter-finals, Waldleitner even took third place. “I’m sure Luan and Lisandro will give their all, grind and take their chance,” says Lesser. Waldleitner played for 1. FC Ingolstadt as ‘Lubappe06’ in the DFB-ePokal last season.
“I am very proud that I can represent such a club. But I also feel a little pressure because I want to perform well to recommend myself for the professional squad,” the ex-Schanzer is quoted as saying. The new colleague Schenk reports an “incredible feeling” to be able to represent TSG virtually. He wanted to “rock the season together”.
The Hoffenheim eSports players had not rocked too much recently. In 2022/23, both the entry into the final and the participation in the play-offs of the VBL Club Championship were missed. No TSG player was able to qualify for the Grand Final of the German individual competition either. It was recently announced that the Bundesliga club will field a (pro)clubs team in EA SPORTS FC 24 in the coming season.
