By Alicia Mmashakana
More than 170 teachers, esport coaches, school managers, tech leaders and esport professionals from South Africa and Namibia recently gathered to share knowledge and learn new skills on gaming and education.
The 2025 Curro Esports Indaba is a yearly event, which brings together top experts in gaming, education and technology industries at Future Africa, University of Pretoria.
“Esports is more than just gaming – it’s a gateway to equipping learners with future-ready skills that translate into real-world success,” Curro esports project manager Magdeleen de Kock said in a statement.
“At the Curro Esports Indaba, we’re equipping teachers and coaches with the tools to help learners thrive in a digital world while ensuring Curro remains at the forefront of esports education in South Africa.”
The Indaba kicked off with discussions about the intersection of technology and professional gaming.
Busisiwe Masango of Goliath Gaming and Glenn du Toit, who is the country manager of Acer Africa, discussed how examined how technological advancements were shaping the industry.
Du Toit gave a keynote address titled “Building an AI Framework: Developing a Relevant Generation”, emphasising the importance of artificial intelligence in preparing esports professionals for the future.
“When cognitive skills (powered by AI) become a commodity, our product changes to one where our ability to be relevant is our differentiator. This differentiator is not driven through technology, it’s about being more human,” said Du Toit.
Breakaway sessions were held throughout the indaba and covered a variety of topics such as LAN setup, coaching strategies, tournament hosting and content creation.
Julia Robson, brand ambassador for Acer Africa, led a session on streaming and esports identity, while Ruan Kruger facilitated an advanced Valorant coaching workshop.
The sessions focused on key themes such as shoutcasting, playing strategies, game design, building learners’ identity and team leadership.
Nick Holden, who is the co-owner of the African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL), and some of the best local South African shoutcasters, Ultrism and Kruger, wrapped up the first day with a pro-level session on what it takes to be a professional shoutcaster.
Stephen Reid and Heather Drolet from Endless Computers led a discussion on how game development skills and prepared students for real-world careers. They said how gaming promoted creativity, problem-solving and digital literacy.
“It was so powerful to see teachers being so eager to learn how to move their learners from consumer, to creator, to contributor, to career, thank you, Curro, for giving your teachers this opportunity,” said Reid.
Curro project coordinator Johan van Lill, who spoke about the “benefit of play”, emphasised how competitive gaming aided learner development. He then led a discussion on mental health strategies for pro coaches and players.
Members of the SA School Esports Association also presented a road map for promoting competitive gaming into educational environments.
“By combining cutting-edge technology, education, and community development, the 2025 Curro Esports Indaba proved that Esports is more than just a game – it’s a vital educational tool for mainstream education, skill development, and future career opportunities,” said De Kock.
INSIDE EDUCATION
