Konami has announced, in conjunction with eFootball.Pro, that Portuguese club Boavista FC will join the two companies’ unique esports competition. The first-ever international esports league for professional football clubs only, Boavista is now the fifth club to join the league.
FC Barcelona, FC Schalke 04, AS Monaco, Celtic FC and now Boavista FC make up the pioneering clubs who, with KONAMI and eFootball.Pro as partners, are looking to expand their presence in this growing area of sport.
Boavista FC president João Loureiro said: “The presence in this competition reinforces the focus on youth, innovation and technology that we want to promote, not only in eSports but throughout the Club”. Like our opponents, we seek to innovate with this competition that brings real and virtual football closer together in another international presence of the Club that we are sure will please our fans”.
Gerard Piqué, founder and president of eFootball.Pro added: “By signing Boavista we reinforce the international vocation of our competition. Surely their performance in the league will not leave anyone indifferent”.
“It is an honour and a true pleasure for KONAMI to work with organisations such as eFootball.Pro and Boavista F.C.”, said Masami Saso, President of Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. “We look forward to working together to drive esports forward and we anticipate many exciting sporting moments to come”.
Founded in 1903, Boavista FC is one of the oldest clubs in Portugal and competes in the top-flight Portuguese league, the Primeira Liga, calling Estádio do Bessa their home. Having won the top division in the 2000/01 season, and with several domestic titles to their name, Boavista boasts a rich history within Portuguese football.
Boavista FC will be represented by a professional team in the eFootball.Pro competition, which will compete using KONAMI’s football video game series, Pro Evolution Soccer. In this new league they will challenge FC Barcelona, FC Schalke 04, AS Monaco, Celtic FC and other top-level clubs that will be unveiled soon.
