VANDERBIJLPARK – This year’s Curro Esports Indaba, held at Curro Aurora from March 5-7, gave 170 Curro teachers, Esports coaches and education innovators from 60 schools a hands-on look at what it takes to run and coach Esports.

Curro Vanderbijlpark teacher, Lorika Jansen and sports head, Marihanna van der Walt attended this exciting event. Esports isn’t just gaming, it’s planning, technologies, coaching and teamwork.

At this year’s Indaba, teachers got hands-on with LAN setups, shoutcasting, coaching drills and game design, then battled it out in live tournaments.

Magdeleen de Kock, Curro Esports Project Manager and organiser of the Indaba states that the Indaba is designed to give teachers insight into the entire infrastructure of Esports.

After three days of learning, collaboration and experimentation at the feet of industry experts, it was once again clear that Esports develops teamwork, communication, strategy and creativity – not only among learners, but also among teachers working together across schools.

The biggest benefit of the Indaba is the way it increases teachers’ understanding of Esports. When people think of Esports they often just think of playing computer games, but it’s a whole world beyond that.

The keynote presentation titled ‘Inspiring Champions’ on the first day was delivered by Dr Henning Gericke, a South African sports psychologist, renowned for helping elite athletes and teams develop the mental strength to perform under pressure. He explained the mindset and discipline necessary for success in competitive environments.

Participants then moved into a range of interactive sessions focused on the real-world, operational side of Esports. These included LAN setup, shoutcasting and streaming, Esports coaching fundamentals, and game design using the Endless platform.

The second day of the Indaba shifted the focus from workshops to competition, with multiple LAN tournament sessions. The evening featured a panel discussion and prize-giving ceremony, while the final day covered sessions on the future of Esports education.

Topics included the roadmap for the 2026 Esports season, the role of neurodiversity in Esports, and the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in gaming and education.

Staff called out the wins: inclusion for non-sporty learners, cross-school collaboration, and a multi-club model. The value of Esports lies in the alternative platform it offers learners to express themselves.

‘Every year, the Indaba grows, and Esports in our schools goes from strength to strength,’ Magdeleen says. ‘Our teachers are gaining the knowledge and confidence to build Esports programmes that support learners’ interests while developing valuable academic and life skills.

The bottom line is this: while Curro is setting the pace for Esports in South Africa, school Esports is still only developing – but its momentum cannot be denied.’