We had the chance to sit down with Mavera, the current coach of S2G Esports, who previously worked with Oxygen, Fire Flux, and Galakticos.
In our conversation, S2G’s coach Mavera talked about his life, career, his ongoing journey with S2G, and shared his thoughts on the Turkish VALORANT scene. It turned out to be a great interview for esports fans.
Hello Mavera, first of all, I’d like to talk a bit about you. How’s life and your career going?
Thank you. Everything’s going well — as usual, it’s quite busy. Every day is spent trying to improve both myself and my players.
As someone who has worked with Turkish teams for a long time, what would you say are the best and worst traits of Turkish players compared to foreign ones?
The best part is that Turkish players are both talented and seem to have stronger reasons to succeed. But honestly, that’s also their biggest weakness. Many young players are so determined to “make it” that they crash hard when faced with setbacks. In competitive sports, winning and losing are both part of the game. Talent and hard work matter, of course, but the psychological side is even more important than it looks from the outside.
Can you tell us a bit about how things are going with S2G lately? Is everything as you hoped?
During the offseason, we reorganized together with S2G management. We’re focusing more on youth development and the academy. Our main goal is to bring new young talents into the ecosystem. Instead of chasing short-term success, we’ve aligned on a long-term project vision.
We’ve been giving many young players opportunities — over a hundred so far. Of course, we can’t work with all of them, but at least they got to experience what a professional tryout is like. We met great people along the way, and this is an area that deserves even more investment.
In VALORANT, compared to CS, younger players seem to find opportunities and success more easily. Why do you think that is?
I think it’s easier to rise in VALORANT. Young players have better adaptability and can sustain high-effort work for longer. Maybe it’s in our genes, but I truly believe Turkey is an FPS country. We have a gold mine, but we’re not digging it. What we need to do is extract and refine these talents properly — yet we’re too lazy to even swing the pickaxe.
Before S2G, did you feel a special bond with any of the teams you worked with?
Honestly, it’s hard to choose. I always try to connect with every organization I’ve worked with. I’m actually a software engineer, but I’m still actively working in the esports industry because I’m passionate about it. And when you love what you do, it’s only natural to care about the people who contribute to it — both the good and the bad ones.
What are your thoughts on the “lobbying” issue in Turkish esports?
I don’t have a positive opinion about it. It’s something we urgently need to get rid of. Decision-makers must take action. People need to step out of their comfort zones and give opportunities to those who truly deserve them. Is it easy? No. Do I have hope? Not much. But do I still try my best for it? Absolutely.
Before S2G, you worked with women’s teams at both Fire Flux and DVM. Which was easier to work with — men’s or women’s teams? What were the main differences?
They were different experiences. At Fire Flux, I only helped the women’s team part-time, but at DVM, I coached an international women’s team for the first time — and it was a great experience.
To be honest, the downside was that the league had less recognition and the in-game level was lower compared to men’s VALORANT. Other than that, working with women was easier. It was a process where I both learned and taught a lot. Those girls were so professional and hardworking that they could set an example for men’s teams. They came to practice every day eager to improve. I hope to see more attention and investment in that side of esports.
Is there something you always emphasize during team practice? What do you pay the most attention to?
Discipline. Not just in attitude, but in everything — both in and out of the game. It’s one of the things I never compromise on. Everyone’s time is valuable, so each team member has to give their best. It’s also my responsibility to ensure that happens. In my view, discipline is the first step toward professionalism in competitive team sports.
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