With FaZe Clan’s shocking failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major this June, the Counter-Strike community is left searching for answers. Despite entering two minor LAN tournaments in a desperate bid to secure enough qualification points, the international powerhouse ultimately fell short. Now, with legendary in-game leader Finn “karrigan” Andersen turning 35 and the organization actively searching for a new head coach, speculation about the team’s future is running rampant.
During the recent BLAST Open Rotterdam, we conducted an interview with renowned commentator Mohan “launders” Govindasamy to discuss the current tier-one scene. When the topic turned to FaZe Clan, he offered a pointed solution for the struggling roster.
Stepping behind the players
Pointing out that FaZe has not secured a trophy since their victory at IEM Chengdu, Govindasamy suggested a major structural shift. He proposed that karrigan transition into the currently vacant coaching role, comparing his potential impact from behind the players to that of NAVI’s Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy.
It’s got to be the point where karrigan would be a coach,” Govindasamy explained. Expanding on the transition, he noted, “That also will take time to get good at even though he knows the game so well, and I feel like from there he could have such a bigger impact on FaZe.
Addressing the veteran’s probable reluctance to leave the server as an active player, Govindasamy simply added,
I know it’s not as fun so I know he doesn’t want to do that.
Whether karrigan is ready to hang up his mouse and take the reins from the sidelines remains to be seen, but launders sees it as the most logical next step for a team in desperate need of a revitalization.
Jame to Spirit?
While FaZe’s uncertain future remains a massive talking point, Govindasamy had plenty of insights regarding the rest of the tier-one landscape. During our interview, the commentator also touched upon Team Vitality’s untouchable form ahead of the Major, stating confidently that
There are no teams that technically should win the major just period besides Vitality.
Furthermore, he discussed MOUZ’s unexpected transition into the villain role in international arenas, as well as why it could be interesting to see Russia’s best IGL Dzhami “Jame” Ali on the Team Spirit roster. You can hear more of Govindasamy’s thoughts on these top contenders, and how he reads the server from the casting booth, in the full interview.
