Portuguese multi-sport club Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting CP) has partnered with Spanish esports organisation DUX Gaming.
The two parties will jointly field a new EA SPORTS FC roster under the Sporting name and also enter women’s EA FC tournaments later this year.
DUX Gaming is a Spanish esports organisation primarily known for its FIFA rosters, as well as its content creation efforts. Off the digital pitch, DUX notably has two high-profile investors: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and former NBA Champion Marc Gasol. DUX Gaming is also a partner of Williams Esports, the esports section of Williams Formula One, and is a partnered NBA 2K League team.
The partnership with Sporting CP aims to improve the club’s esports efforts by providing quality players that will represent Sporting domestically and internationally. The club recently updated its esports facilities in the club’s stadium, Estádio José Alvalade.
Two players, Jaime Alvarez ‘Gravesen’ and Miguel Garcia ‘IronMike’ have joined Sporting CP as a result of the partnership. According to the two parties, a woman EA FC player will also join Sporting CP’s roster soon.
Although no further details were shared, press photographs show that the DUX Gaming logo will be featured on the players’ jerseys alongside the Sporting CP logo. Sporting CP’s EA FC players will compete in the eLiga Portugal, which is the top-flight official esports football league in Portugal, and the eLiga Portugal Cup. The club will aim to improve on last season’s result – Sporting finished the season in 11th place and its main rivals, Benfica, won the league.
Via a translated Portuguese release, Mario Fernandez, CEO of DUX Gaming, commented: “We are very proud to announce this partnership with a historic club like Sporting Clube de Portugal, alongside which we will compete in the Portuguese eLiga, offering all our experience and talent.
“Our common values are the commitment to young talent and the importance of transmitting values through achievements and content.”
