-First game standing behind FaZe. Tell me a bit about this new life as a coach. What is it exactly, is this something you want to do long term? How did it all come about?
I've been enjoying my life for quite some time now without the game. Once you get into a team and teamwork you sacrifice most of it because you spend so much time inside the game, working on the team and everything. But I've been considering it, I had some requests if I wanted to be a coach, but they weren't really as attractive as this one.In the end it's a no-brainer, it's a natural step for a player at some point if he still wants to be around the game. There's more options these days. The analysts, team managers, coaches... When we started talking about it, with the FaZe guys, it felt like a perfect solution for both of us — I hope.
I've never done this before, obviously, but I've known them for a while, especially rain and karrigan. I've really been a fan of these guys and they have the same structure, or at least Finn is leading his team the way I understand and I did myself at some point, so it's all very well connected.
It's a perfect option and when they asked me, the biggest concern was to be away from home again and spending so much time on the game again. I guess I found out how much I missed being in this world and in this game for quite some time now because I've always liked thinking about strats, coming up with new things and working on the structure.
Here I do it without playing, that's another worry I had, not being able to have impact inside the server, only outside, that's where I have to now step up a little bit because it's not just working on team structure and strategies.
Obviously, karrigan is doing so well, so I have to be working with people. I got to know how it is today and it felt really good. The guys won and it makes it even better, but still, I think all of the worries I had are already gone and I do like it, I do enjoy it, so I look forward to some more.
-RobbaN was really known as a glue guy who helps with the atmosphere...
Yeah, that's another concern after seeing Finn's video on his YouTube for RobbaN. There's a backstory with me and RobbaN, actually.20 years ago, when we didn't compete in tournaments, he was one of my first international friends I had from playing online. I played with my guys from my internet cafe, he played with his friends from his city, and we played in one team. We got to know each other basically on a public server.
Two years later we started competing against each other, he was playing for Swedish teams and we spent a month in Korea. I've known RobbaN for so many years, he's an incredible guy. Really, as a coach I think he was a very unique one. You can feel how the guys loved him and he was bringing so many good vibes to the team.
Obviously, I'm a little bit different, so it's going to be hard to bring the same things, but I'm just taking it step by step. But yeah, they really loved him.
-So are you brought on to be like RobbaN, a glue guy, or are you working a bit more on the strategic side, having played until recently?
I've started being with the team for like two weeks now, maybe? They were still at the BLAST tournament, they had their practice room and I joined them for their practice.I'm obviously not RobbaN, I'm just trying to find my own way into coaching. I might have a bit more input here, but less input over there... It's a very new situation I'm in and still discovering what type of coach I might become. We'll see [laughs].
-What you mention is also interesting, it happened so quickly. RobbaN said he would step down only at the end of the break and that set everything in motion so quickly.
It's been crazy because when we started talking, with Finn and others, after a couple of days I was already on the server with them and after a couple more days I came here to Cologne. Like I said, the lifestyle I had totally changed again back to the way it used to be before, so it's a very dynamic situation to be in.I'm very happy to be here, like I said, I think I discovered how much I missed it all. The feeling of the team winning in a tournament, everyone hyped up... Obviously, there's losses and difficult conversations, and finding solutions, but it's all part of the life in a team environment. I'm just very happy to be here, like I said.
-How was the actual act of standing behind the team during the match? Was there any moment you thought 'Oh, just give me a mouse and keyboard!'?
[Laughs] No, it's not that. I remember myself sitting there, I remember different approaches from coaches: The high-fives, the fistbumps, the massages... I messed up today during the game. I wanted to pause, to take a tactical timeout, but I did it too late so he got confused, and I got confused too... But it's the beginning, luckily nothing bad came out of it.There's still stuff to improve. It feels a little bit weird not being able to talk to them. That's what I feel is the biggest difference. When I was sitting at home I could talk to them all of the time, right? They finished a round, I could talk. They're mid-round, I can say something... Obviously, you don't want to do this much, but still, you can do it. You can communicate. Here, you can come up, poke the guy and fist bump him, but you cannot really talk, so it's not really natural yet, but I'm getting there.
I just need to get to know the guys more. I know rain, who I played with, and karrigan, I've known him for many years, but the rest are new guys to me, so we're trying to get to know each other. I'm trying to get to know how they are and what they need. So we're taking little steps, baby steps.
-Now that you got your first experience doing this, is it something you're attracted to and want to keep developing? Do you see yourself potentially saying 'Yeah, I want to become a coach, this is what I want to do'?
There are some times when I miss playing, but obviously it's going to be difficult to get back to those times. Like I said, being around the game... I tried streaming for quite some time and I think being with the team in the game is more for me than streaming.I like playing games, not only CS, but I like playing other games and streaming can help you do that. But then you're not working with a team and having the life you have when you're going through things and basically adjusting everything to the team schedule.
It's even better than I imagined, or it's really good, I feel natural in here. It's my thing. I thought it would be more difficult. Obviously, it's the start, and I'm going to need to get some feedback from the guys because it's just my words, not theirs. Who knows what they think of me! Maybe they're tired of me poking them [laughs]. But we'll see, like I said, it's baby steps and we'll get there.
-And you get the adrenaline of competition, which is different to streaming.
Yeah, it's one of the biggest parts of it, the hype you get from being in a team and the emotions you have, the rollercoaster — you lose a round, you win a round, and you do it all over again. [Laughs]
-How easy has it been to adapt? Some of the guys you know, some are new... Is it an easy team to coach? Is it a good transition to join a team that's maybe not so demanding immediately?
Yeah, I'm very lucky to have my start here with a team that's structured and working very well. They won the Major when they couldn't have RobbaN with them, so that shows how good of a team they are.I'm not in a position as a coach that I have to build a team, find the players who suit other players, build a structure, and everything. I'm very lucky, it's an amazing thing.
-Can you tell a bit about how you became FaZe's coach? What were the talks?
One day I was contacted by Finn, karrigan. If I want to do it. The next day I said I wanted to do it and yeah, that's how I got here!
-A bit of a sleepless night?
Not really, after a quick moment I knew I was going to do it. Even if it gave me a headache or restless sleep, it was a no-brainer.
Filip "NEO" Kubski, the new coach of FaZe team, after a successful start against Ninjas in Pyjamas at IEM Cologne 2023, where his team won with a score of 2-1, found time to share his thoughts about his transition to a coaching role after a lengthy and fruitful player career.
Currently, the team is one step away from the group B final at IEM Cologne 2023.
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