Most of our interviews are conducted with players or coaches from individual teams. Sometimes, however, we also like to delve deeper into the organisation’s structure and ask the managers themselves for their perspective. These are mainly people who invest significant sums of money in a given project and, as a result, often expect results. Nexium POLteam is a brand that has been growing steadily; it has been active in CS and SimRacing for quite some time, but now they are left with only their Counter-Strike division, on which they are fully focused.
[R] To start with, please introduce yourself and tell us how your journey into esports began.
Hi, my name is Piotr. My journey into esports began in 2021, when DjDziadek invited me to join POLteam in an organisational support role. Over time, I became increasingly fascinated by how the whole organisational structure works and what can be achieved with it. That’s when I realised that esports isn’t just about playing games, but also about people, planning and building something bigger together.
In 2022, I took over the running of POLteam, and a year later we managed to register officially as the POLteam Esports Association.
[R] How many sections does POLteam currently consist of, and are you planning to expand into other esports titles?
At the moment, we only have a CS2 section within the organisation; next year, we plan to return to SimRacing.
[R] How do you select players or entire squads for the organisation?
When it comes to teams, we focus primarily on attitude, commitment and a desire to develop; when it comes to filling gaps in the team, the rest of the team makes the decisions in consultation with us – after all, they are the ones who have to gel and work together.
[R] What is the relationship like between the management and the drivers?
The management always tries to take an active part in the team’s life; of course, we also have other responsibilities, such as talks with sponsors or dealing with paperwork and official bodies, which is why a section coordinator has been appointed.
[R] How do you assess the current state of Polish esports from the perspective of the association’s chairman?
Polish esports is moving forward, but we still have a lot of work to do. The biggest problem is the attitude of some players; many focus solely on the game itself, forgetting about the team and the organisation behind it. Esports isn’t just about aim and reflexes, but also about teamwork, responsibility and consistency. If more people understand this, our scene will really take off.
[R] In your opinion, do Polish organisations currently have a realistic chance of competing at an international level?
Honestly? I don’t think so; we’re missing the ‘Golden Five’
[R] What are POLteam’s short-term goals for the coming months, and what are its long-term development plans?
At the moment, we want to rebuild our SimRacing division – it’s a project that’s very important to us. Apart from that, we’re looking for people to help develop the organisation from within: people for social media, administration or graphic design.
[R] What values do you aim to promote as an organisation?
We try to focus on things that are often overlooked in esports. For us, patience, diligence and honesty are important both within the team and beyond. But I suppose perseverance is the most important thing. Many players give up after a poor season, rather than treating it as a lesson. We want to show that setbacks are normal and that it’s precisely through them that you can go further, provided you don’t give up after the first stumble.
[R] Managing an esports team isn’t just a passion, it’s also a business. How do you manage to combine these two aspects?
POLteam is a non-profit organisation, so we don’t operate for profit and we don’t have a traditional business model. We do this out of a pure passion for esports and a desire to create something of value for the players. Of course, it would be difficult to grow without financial support, which is why I must take this opportunity to thank our sponsors; it is thanks to them that we can bring our ideas to life, support our players and keep going.
[R] Is there a particular moment or achievement that you’re especially proud of as president of POLteam?
I haven’t gone mad yet, so I suppose that’s something ;). But seriously, what gives me the most joy is every moment when I see our team in action. Whether it’s an online match or a LAN event, I always feel the same sense of pride. It’s great to watch the lads fight, support one another and show their character. It gives me the feeling that what we’re doing really does make sense.
[R] To wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to POLteam’s fans or our readers?
I’d just like to thank the fans for their support – thanks. And to everyone who’s made it to the end of this interview, thanks for your time. I hope you didn’t fall asleep along the way ;).
Thank you for your time and for sharing the perspective of someone who manages the organisation. We’d also like to invite you to follow POLteam on social media, which helps me develop even further.
POLteam (x.com — Facebook — website — team profile)
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