Your atuk could be on Malaysia’s first senior esports team!

If you’re a gamer from the younger generation, chances are that you’re tired of dealing with relatives who scoff at esports being “a real sport” before turning back to watch a chess competition. And despite your best efforts to tell them about the benefits and legitimacy of esports, they still don’t listen to you. You wish someone else could explain it better to them…

So how about you sign them up to a senior esports boot camp? Until 8th April, people 50 years-old and over can sign up to form Malaysia’s first senior esports team playing Counter Strike 2 and win up to RM20,000 in prizes!

Goodday Charge is behind this competition, also named Boomers2Gamers. This includes sponsoring the development of the National eSport Development Guideline (NESDEG), launched in partnership with Hannah Yeoh and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, designed to protect esports athletes and ensure the development of the industry.

They’re not gonna be cincai about the selection process and pluck some random auntie, they’re gonna be real thorough. After registration, eligible participants will go through a virtual interview as part of the shortlisting process.

The 10 shortlisted candidates will then undergo a comprehensive gaming crash course to get educated on what it takes to be an esports athlete and highlighting the benefits they can gain, like building connections, healthier habits, improved mental cognition and just plain ol’ having fun. The course will cover 5 essential pillars: Trained Skill, Strategy, Exercise, Diet and Sleep, and Teamwork and Communication.

Then, they’ll attend a 3 day boot camp, followed by online training sessions with their team. A final 3 day training and preparation period will culminate in a 5v5 competition to determine the 5 players who will make history as Malaysia’s most senior esports team.

It’s not that Goodday is run by gamers (though there’s no way to disprove that…for now), but they believe that esports are just as legitimate as any other sport. This initiative serves to debunk myths and push for greater acceptance.

And the first effective step would be to create a bridge of understanding with the older generation. Boomers2Gamers serves as a platform to help the older generation create a better understanding of esports, promote active ageing by highlighting the mental and physical benefits of esports, as well as bridging the generational gap and giving seniors something to bond over with their younger relatives.

What exactly is the brand behind this? Goodday Charge is a specially formulated chocolate milk that aims to give esports athletes all the nutrition a traditional athlete would need, like vitamin B complex which helps sustain energy. Additionally, Malaysia’s most successful esports athlete, xNova, as the face of Goodday Charge’s revamped packaging and sponsoring the recent 2024 Malaysian eSports Awards, so expect to see him when you get a pack!

Whether you’re a boomer looking for a new challenge or a younger whippersnapper looking to change your relative’s mind, sign up right here.