Africa
Going for posts, Unstoppable inclusion with Rugby Africa
Fatma’s journey in rugby began with coincidence, much like many of the greats in the game, Rugby has been a quest of growing one’s confidence. Back in 2015, without any prior experience in playing rugby, Fatma had only attended rugby games as a spectator, most of which were only played by men. After a life changing suggestion for a new hobby from a friend, she made it out to the rugby field behind her office and there her story began, with the support of other female players. When she picked up the oval ball for the first time, she knew that she had found what she had been searching for.
Despite champions of Rugby in Botswana like Fatma campaigning for its broad-based promotion, Rugby and more importantly as a sport for women, has largely remained a sport which exhibits great potential for growth. Fatma exclaims that in Botswana, Rugby for women is hardly discussed. On the other hand, this has not left her, and other Unstoppables demotivated, in fact the value of their work is the single greatest force behind the grassroots development of the game. Her work has been applauded by World Rugby and Rugby Africa, amongst many other organisations and institutions seeking to promote women empowerment. Through the work of Fatma and others, future sports women will join or learn from the sport.
In her own career as a player, Fatma has seen a marked improvement in the participation of more teams in the women’s league. With the number of players increasing over the years, she anticipates that there will be more athletes from school rugby, advancing to league rugby. Further to this she believes that there will also be more women as coaches and referees in the near future- unstoppable.
As part of her outreach efforts, Fatma launched the “A Try for Change”, which is a grassroots initiative to empower girls through the sport. She and others seek to conscientize young women and girls to grow their self-confidence, as a means of unlocking their true potential in society. Rugby is used as a medium of instruction, but the goal of her work is to empower attendees to become agents of change in their respective communities- on or off the field of play. The programme is targeted at primary school leavers and includes modules on introspective exercises, recreational activities with learning objectives, mentorships, as well as preparatory programs in enterprise development.
Coming from a conservative background which does not prioritise the involvement of women in sports, Fatma has vigorously worked to change perceptions of elders and community leaders, to work with their support. She has opened way for reports and researched findings, to find their way into the hands of key decision makers. Overall, the programme has received a positive reception from participants, teachers and the Botswana Rugby Union, and plans are already afoot to run ‘A Try for Change’ again in the new year.
Based on the feedback she has received working with young girls, Fatma used the global “Try & Stop Us” campaign to address the issue of Gender Based Violence affecting women and children inher community. As an Unstoppable leader, she is breaking the silence of abuse in communities by raising awareness around civil liberties and justice. She deeply empathises with young girls who are not taught about building their confidence in school, as the priority is generally put on teaching the standard course curriculum. Sessions with Fatma and her team have become safe and supportive structures for personal development in the schools and communities they serve.
Fatma believes that instilling self-confidence in young women sets them up for life, not only for them to be leaders in the future, but more importantly now, for them to be able to tackle head on collisions with Gender Based Violence and many other scourges of society.
President of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee at Rugby Africa, Ms Paula Lancoemphasised that, “the WRAC and creation of its sub-committees will ultimately help increase awareness of women in rugby, attracting more tournaments and partnerships with sponsors, increasing the overall popularity of the game in the continent.”
According to Maha Zaoui, Women’s Manager Rugby Africa, “With the impact COVID-19 has placed globally, we are able to work with the sub-committees to overcome challenges the pandemic has placed on world sports and identifying untapped opportunities,”.
For Fatma, Rugby has been life changing not just for her career as a person, but more importantly it has empowered her as an individual to transform the lives of many. Her personal journey has become a reference point for others, who share in her passion and struggle for inclusion in different parts of their lives. Her outreach work has won many over and today has set the foundation for unstoppable future female leaders in Botswana and Africa at large, who have been transformed through the philosophy of the game.
Source: Rugby Africa.
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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, proudly announces the launch of its major South African project with Mzansibet. It marks the first project in the country to utilise both the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook and the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
According to the recently released South Africa: iGaming Market Overview 2025 by SOFTSWISS, the country’s iGaming sector is growing at an impressive annual rate of 20–25%, driven by increasing mobile penetration. In line with this trend and evolving player needs, SOFTSWISS strongly focuses on mobile optimisation across its platforms, enabling seamless and enjoyable gaming experiences for Mzansibet players.
The launch in South Africa, ensuring full compliance with local technical standards, required meticulous preparation. SOFTSWISS products – including its sports betting software and online casino platform – underwent rigorous certification with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the most reputable and globally recognised independent testing laboratories in the iGaming industry. Following this process, the solutions were officially approved for local operation by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board – a respected and influential regulator in the region – affirming the high quality and compliance of SOFTSWISS software.
Max Trafimovich, International Non-Executive Director at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Mzansibet entered the market with a bold ambition to become a top-tier brand – and we are not only proud to support that vision from day one, but also well-equipped to ensure its sustainable growth. Leveraging our global and local expertise, we provide the technical, business, and service tools necessary for a smooth launch and scalable development. This is made possible thanks to our robust and stable architecture with 99.999% uptime and a flexible platform ecosystem. In addition, the brand launched a nationwide TV advertising campaign and has already attracted tens of thousands of players across the country – a powerful testament to its growing presence and trust.”
In addition to backend certification, the SOFTSWISS team invested heavily in frontend localisation to align with the partner’s vision and market requirements. The Mzansibet project has been fully adapted to meet South African player behaviour and betting patterns.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Rise & Hustle, Africa’s next-gen tap-to-earn gaming operator, has launched its reward-based mobile street game series in the Nigerian market. Running on its proprietary platform, Rise & Hustle gives players the opportunity to rise from Hustler to Kingpin, earning Bucks during the grind to unlock real-world rewards.
Created for Africa’s mobile-first generation, Rise & Hustle enables taps and achievements to be redeemed for mobile airtime, tangible rewards & Rise Tokens – all without spending a cent. The portfolio of free-to-play games and lottery products is designed in-house, giving Rise & Hustle the ability to deliver energetic and competitive experiences that appeal to players.
The company was co-founded by Anthony Broadhurst, a key player in Africa’s gaming and crypto world, and Josh Jones, an experienced iGaming entrepreneur with a stellar record of building successful platforms.
Rise Tokens are crypto-backed rewards on the Binance Smart Chain and power a real economy that rewards loyalty. Squads and community are central to gameplay with leaderboards, status, and real-time tournaments making each session count.
Embracing AI technology, local partnerships, and sharp design, Rise & Hustle is on the path to becoming Africa’s most culturally relevant gaming operator. A full Real Money Gaming offering is due for launch imminently.
Beyond Nigeria, expansion plans include Kenya and Ghana, with launches scheduled for completion by the close of 2025. As Rise & Hustle scales, it will strengthen collaborations with mobile networks, pioneering brands, and influencers to accelerate mass adoption. With its bold brand, crypto-powered rewards, and laser focus on mobile-first entertainment, Rise & Hustle’s platform is the future.
Rise & Hustle CEO and co-founder Josh Jones commented: “Rise & Hustle is flipping the script on how value is created for an entire generation’s time and talent spent on mobile games. We’re here to turn everyday entertainment into real-world rewards. This isn’t just a game – we’re building a cultural movement where players grind together to reach the top through ambition and hustle.”
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Africa
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00)
With the South African Protea Esports Team for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang title having laid waste to all its opponents in its group (Namibia and Congo), the Proteas now have to do battle against Madagascar.
Madagascar has also won all its matches in its group having beaten both Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
Thus to see which country earns its place to represent Southern Africa at the prestigious IESF World Esports Championships – WEC25 – the two titans will meet on the field of battle.
The winner of this clash on 23 July 2025 will see only one country emerge to represent Southern Africa at IESF’s WEC25.
Thus, there is much at stake, honour, prestige, and a nation’s pride!
The match is a thrilling best-of-five games in which, all MSSA is confident that the Proteas will emerge victorious!
As usual the dedicated team from Waylander Gaming will stream the match on https://youtube.com/@waylander_gaming at 19H00.
The battle hardened veteran team of Protea athletes for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang esports title are:
| Name | Club | Nick | Province |
| Shaden Dre Shabalala (Capt.) | King of the Hill | SUPER Shady | Gauteng |
| Mogamat Junaid Ismail | King of the Hill | JụjuMC.♡ | Western Cape |
| Slindokuhle Ndlovu | King of the Hill | lindo | Gauteng |
| Umer Ali Khan | King of the Hill | VeloTzy. | Gauteng |
| Schalk Rademeyer | Paradox | SUPER Light | Eastern Cape |
The post Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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