Dawnview High learner excels in ELeague in Saudi Arabia
Nokraj became the first youngest African female eSports competitor to compete at the Afro-Arab Esports League.
Mikara Nokraj, a Dawnview High learner, flew the South African flag high when she competed at the Afro-Arab Esports League in Saudi Arabia in August.
The league was in Riyadh on August 20, featuring 25 member nations across the African and Arab world.
These national teams competed for three days in tournaments tailored for men and women, covering popular games such as eFootball and Valorant.
Nokraj became the youngest African female eSports competitor to compete at the Afro-Arab Esports League.
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She said her interest in eFootball stemmed from playing at home with her brother, who taught her tips and tricks.
“Before I knew it, I was competing at different levels. My light ignited when the general secretary of Mind Sports South Africa did a presentation on the sport when he visited our school.
“After signing up, I competed in school tournaments, at provincial and national levels. I received my provincial and national colours in the female division of eFootball,” said Nokraj.
“Johan van Breda, the deputy president of Mind Sports SA, asked my parents if they would consent to allow me to attend the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
“I had the benefit of a low female participation rate. Among the many boys who signed up, I was the only girl from my school. I had the drawback of competing against boys older than 18.
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“We flew for 11 hours to Saudi Arabia and received royal treatment at the five-star Hilton Hotel in Riyadh.
“The gaming arena was incredible; I had only seen it on television before. My opponents were experienced gamers between 25 and 35, whereas I was just 14.
“I met people amazed that, at the young age of 14, I was competing on such a large platform. I even got to meet Prince Faisal.
“Knowing that I was representing South Africa was such an emotional experience. I had never imagined this.
I encourage all females to try out this sport because there are opportunities, not only financially, but you meet interesting people from different cultures and explore the world.
“I lost my first two games and won the third. However, I was knocked out because of a goal difference.
“Nokraj is a bright student with distinctions for achieving 80% or higher in creative arts and economic management science (EMS),“ said her teacher, Xolani Madlopha.
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“She is pioneering, breaking down barriers, and even in class, she can ask questions and pay attention to her books. The school was jubilant when she arrived back from Saudi Arabia,” said Madlopha.
“She did a great job representing our nation and school. More learners are asking questions about the next event now. The principal was content, and the minister of sports had to give her a visa approval.
“She intends to get a coach to advance her talents. Dancing and accounting are two other of her passions,” said Madlopha.
The inauguration ceremony of the Afro-Arab Esports League was in the presence of Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairperson of the Saudi Esports Federation and chairperson of the Arab Esports Federation and Dr Ashraf Sobhi, the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports.
Heads of Esports federations also attended the event, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman, Cameroon, Mali, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, South Africa, Namibia and Nigeria.
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Prince Faisal underlined the importance of the event as a primary means to foster cultural exchange and collaboration among the participating nations. He hoped that over time, more Arab and African teams would take part.
He also emphasised the desired goals of these championships, which provided an opportunity for players to gather, share experiences, and celebrate their shared passion while competing in eSports.
Sobhi lauded the efforts of Prince Faisal in spearheading the creation of the Afro-Arab Esports League.
He highlighted the importance of uniting the youth from the Arab and African regions on a single platform to engage in these competitions, noting its significance and the many opportunities it provides for growth.
