Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team MiBR has hired a psychologist to try and resolve some internal issues within the team. The hiring was confirmed by Epitacio “TACO” de Melo on Twitter.
MiBR clearly has some internal issues that need to be addressed. Their recent performances have been poor, with the Brazilian team having been one of the first teams eliminated from the recent ESL One Cologne event. Following that event, star player Marcelo “coldzera” David controversially asked to be removed from the starting lineup prior to the StarLadder Berlin Major in August.
Having qualified for the major it was thought that coach Wilton “zews” Prado would join the active roster. A recent report has shown that this would be against tournament rules. The rules do allow for a coach to step in under emergency circumstances, however coldzera wishing to be benched would not classify as an emergency.
With rosters locked before the event, it seems the MIBR roster will include coldzera for the upcoming major, as the team would otherwise face disqualification from the tournament. The organization will hope that the hiring of a psychologist can help improve the team environment until after the event where it seems there will be roster changes.
FaZe Clan star player Nikola “NiKo” Kovač’s comments on instagram fueled rumours that coldzera wanted to join the team. Niko had replied #FaZeUp on a coldzera post, but since then comments have been disabled. FaZe currently sit at sixth place according to the HLTV world rankings, and the addition of the firepower of coldzera could be beneficial to the team.
But for now, coldzera doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Pending the work with the team’s new psychologist, he might even maintain a future with MiBR.
Many teams across esports, as well as in traditional sports, have worked with sports psychologists to help bring the best out of players. As a discipline it focuses on how psychological issues can impact performance in athletes. They can also help with relationship building skills and conflict resolution, along with relaxation and reduction of stress techniques.
Team Liquid and Astralis are among the most prominent teams to work with sports psychologists, and while that work doesn’t necessarily account for their success, it does show that the best players and teams in the world have been open to this sort of solution.
